By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
NCAA South Regional Championships
Date: Friday, Nov. 12, 2021
Time: 8:30 a.m. CT (women – 6K) & 9:30 a.m. CT (men – 10K)
Location: John Hunt Park | Huntsville, Ala.
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech cross country teams will look to ride their momentum built at the Ohio Valley Conference Championships into Friday's NCAA South Regional Championships.
The event is set to kick off with the women's 6K at 8:30 a.m. CT while the men's 10K is scheduled to follow at approximately 9:30 a.m.
Both Golden Eagle programs enter the South Regional event red hot after posting historic finishes at the OVC Championships nearly two weeks ago. The Tech women delivered its top finish in program history, earning a runner-up showing at Vaughn's Cree Cross Country Course at Percy Warner Park.
Four members of the purple and gold took home All-OVC accolades due to their finishes, each placing in the top-15. Helen Pacurariu-Nagy led Tech with a third-place finish, clocking in at 18:19.0 to make the All-OVC First Team. Joining her on the First Team was Amanda Laboy with a seventh-place finish.
Rahab Sawe completed the 5K event in 10th place while Ruby Wyles finished 12th in the field. Both Golden Eagles were named to the All-OVC Second Team for their efforts.
The men's team placed third overall, tying its second-best finish in program history (1962, 1965, 1966, and 2018). The strong showing also vaulted the Golden Eagles into the top-15 rankings in the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association's (USTFCCCA) South Region for the first time since 2018, coming in at No. 15.
Sophomore Dominic Smith was the lead runner for the Tech men, returning to action after missing the team's last meet to finish 10th overall. The Swansea, Wales native clocked in at 25:23.2, locking down an All-OVC Second Team honor.
Joining him on the All-OVC Second Team with a 13th-place performance was Miceal McCaul. Competing in the final conference meet of his career, senior Ababu Mohamed left it all out on the line, finishing 16th with a time of 25:48.4.
The Fields
The NCAA South Regional Championships fields consist of Alabama, Alabama State, Alcorn State, Auburn, Belmont, Chattanooga, ETSU, Florida, Florida Atlantic, FGCU, FIU, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Georgia Tech, Jackson State, Jacksonville, Jacksonville State, Kennesaw State, Lipscomb, Memphis, Mercer, Miami (Fla.), Middle Tennessee, North Florida, Ole Miss, Samford, South Alabama, Southern Miss, Stetson, Tennessee, Tennessee Tech, Troy, UAB, UCF, USF, UT Martin, and Vanderbilt.
Photos by Jim Dillon
