The Lee University men’s cross country team overcame near freezing temperatures and snow flurries to claim the 2014 National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Division I National Championship, while the Lady Flames will carry home a fourth-place plaque.
More than 50 teams and 375 competitors from both NCCAA divisions took part in the men’s 8K and women’s 5K races contested on the Houghton College Field of Dreams cross country course.
Five Lee runners (Seth Eagleson, Harold Smith, Tyler Boone, Jessica Childers and Elizabeth Sillcocks) earned recognition as NCCAA All-Americans by finishing among the top 15 runners from NCCAA Division I in their respective races.
The Flames placed five runners among the top 23 finishers of Division I to record a score of 60. Oklahoma Christian was second (83), Emmanuel College placed third and Spring Arbor (Mich.) finished fourth (121).
Eagleson was the first to cross the finish line for Lee. The freshman recorded a time of 25:11.9 for third place. Tucker Hilley of Emmanuel was first (25:05.8) and Bryant Keirns of Oklahoma Christian was second (25:06.9).
Smith was right behind Eagleson in fourth with a mark of 25:14.1 and Boone finished 12th overall (25:40.6). Camden Perez was 19th (26:09.4) and Joseph Crook was Lee’s final scoring runner at 26:20.0 (24th overall).
Emmanuel Kipchumba and Terris Elliott were the final two Lee runners. Kipchumba was 56th (27:11.2) and Elliott finished 137th with a time of 29:31.7.
The Lady Flames put three runners among the top 18 Division I competitors on their way to scoring 121 points. Roberts Wesleyan (N.Y.) was the NCCAA Division I champion with 27 points. Dallas Baptist (95) was second and Trinity Christian (Ill.) placed third with 119 points.
Childers continued to lead the way for Lee with a time of 18:19.0. The junior’s time was good for fifth place. Rachel Prutsman (17:54.2) and Megan Hulton (17:58.7) of Roberts Wesleyan were first and second, while Anna Bos (18:16.9) and Jessica Disselkoen (18:18.1) of Trinity Christian finished third and fourth.
Sillcocks was 15th overall and 13th among NCCAA Division I runners with a mark of 18:58.9. Audrey Smith (21st, 19:20.7) was the third Lee runner to finish under 20 minutes.
Lauren Hart and Emily Bryan were the final two scoring runners for the Lady Flames. Hart finished at 20:02.8 (41st) and Bryan was 56th (20:18.2).
Danielle King was the 99th runner across the finish line with a time of 21:21.5. Madison Riddle recorded a time of 23:42.1 for 159th.