Radford University hosted the 2023 Big South Cross Country Championships on Sunday morning at Green Hill Park in Salem. The women ran a 5k and placed third overall and the men competed in an 8k and landed fourth place against their conference rivals.
Natalie Preston was also awarded Big South’s Scholar Athlete of the Year. Not only did she excel on the course, earning a personal record at the Virginia Tech Invitational and Big South Championship, she also has maintained a 4.0 GPA as a nursing major over her past two years at Radford University.
Mackenize Brownrigg also earned kudos with the Big South being named Women’s Newcomer of the Year. Her personal best at Radford is 15:26.4 (4k) and 18:16.2 (5k).
In the men’s competition, Joshua Daggett finished in 14th place at 25:14.4, while Maxton Sowers was close behind with a run time of 25:16.4 putting him in 15th place with a new personal best and in Radford’s record book. Luke Richards came in at 25:52.4, earning the 24th spot. Sam Sikora earned not only 27th place (26:01.7), but he also found a spot on the 2023 Men’s Cross Country All-Academic team. In 34th place, Nick McCumsey completed the race with a time of 26:40.3.
To close out the men’s performance, Liam McDonald hurled himself over the finish line to earn a spot in the top-50 (49th place) at 27:39.0. To round off the team, Alejo Cobos accomplished the course within 28:58.7, placing him in 63rd place.
Meanwhile in the women’s division, Chloe Wellings and MegAnne Gilmore both earned themselves medals and new personal records after coming in fifth and sixth place, respectively. Wellings flew in at 17:16.4 and Gilmore at 17:17.3, who is also putting her name in Radford’s record book.
Another PR setter was Abby Seigel’s 18:30.3 landing her in 16th place. The aforementioned Preston’s best new time is 18:50.8 putting her in 23rd place. Back-to-back Rachel Millirons (28th place) and Kate McLearen (29th place) ran a second apart with Millirons speeding in at 19:04.6 and McLearen right behind with 19:05.7.
Freshman Kayla Fields and Mia Farley hurled in at 19:11.2 and 19:18.0, producing 32nd and 34th place. This is Farley’s best 5k time so far at Radford. Newcomer of the Year, Mackenzie Brownrigg, rounded out the Highlanders in 39th position at 19:32.8.
MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
Individual Champion
Micah Gilpatric, Charleston Southern
Freshman of the Year
Conan Harper, Charleston Southern
Newcomer of the Year
Reuben Kosche, High Point
Coach of the Year
Adam Puett, UNC Asheville
Scholar-Athlete of the Year
William Johnson, Presbyterian College
All-Conference (Top 14 Finishers)
First Team
Micah Gilpatric, Charleston Southern
Conan Harper, Charleston Southern
Sam Waldin, Charleston Southern
Adam Hessler, UNC Asheville
Hunter Steinau, High Point
Jaden Kingsley, Charleston Southern
Jan Malek, UNC Asheville
Second Team
Daniel Hopkins, UNC Asheville
Caleb Kenyon, Charleston Southern
Griffin Gillespie, Charleston Southern
Graham Ferguson, High Point
Jeff Wedding, Charleston Southern
Kyle Spencer, High Point
Joshua Daggett, Radford
All-Academic Team
Jaden Kingsley, Charleston Southern
Ryan Morita, Gardner-Webb
Hunter Steinau, High Point
Alec Daniel, Longwood
William Johnson, Presbyterian College
Sam Sikora, Radford
Dylan Major, UNC Asheville
Jared Keklak, USC Upstate
Nolan Weisdorfer, Winthrop
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
Individual Champion
Brianna Malone, High Point
Freshman of the Year
Brianna Malone, High Point
Newcomer of the Year
Mackenzie Brownigg, Radford
Coach of the Year
Remy Tamer, High Point
Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Natalie Preston, Radford
All-Conference Team (Top 14 Finishers)
First Team
Brianna Malone, High Point
Sarah McCartney, Charleston Southern
Keerstin Augustin, Charleston Southern
Katie Taylor, High Point
Chloe Wellings, Radford
MegAnne Gilmore, Radford
Anne Akagi, Charleston Southern
Second Team
Isabel Richardson, UNC Asheville
Charli Montalvo, High Point
Elizabeth Ritter, High Point
Anna Ritter, High Point
Ella Moore, UNC Asheville
Paris Stankewich, High Point
Taylar White, Charleston Southern
All-Academic Team
Taylar White, Charleston Southern
Jessica Perriello, Gardner-Webb
Katie Taylor, High Point
Kiersten Witte, Longwood
Caroline Rairigh, Presbyterian College
Natalie Preston, Radford
Sophie Lundin, UNC Asheville
Heaven Bennett, USC Upstate
Olivia Kemp, Winthrop
Radford University Athletics