OAKVILLE, Ala. – The University of Tennessee Southern women's cross country squad finished third in SSAC Championship held at Oakville Indian Mounds Park on Saturday.

Blue Mountain Christian won the 2023 SSAC Women's Cross Country Championship with a score of 46, while the Toppers' Catherine Truemper won the individual title by clocking in at 22:17.73 at Oakville Indian Mounds Park.

Blue Mountain earns a bid to the 2023 NAIA Women's Cross Country National Championship by winning the title. A second team would also receive a bid if they are ranked in the NAIA Top 30 in this week's upcoming poll. Also, the top six individuals not on a qualifying team will earn bids.

The Crusaders produced three of the top five finishers, but the Toppers had five in the top 14 to claim the title.

Alyssa Andrea led the Firehawk effort earning a 6th-place finish in 23:22. UTS ended the race in 2:01:44 and with 80 points.  Andrea qualified for the NAIA National Championship held in Vancouver, Wash., on November 17^th. Andrea is the first member of the women's cross country squad to qualify for nationals.

The rest of the UT Southern scorers finished taking places 15, 17, 18, and 24. Olivia Barksdale landed a time of 24:15, while Emma Vizina ran at 24:25. Miriam Schulz crossed the line at 24:26, with Amelia Worsley 48 seconds behind at 25:14.

Team Scoring

1. Blue Mountain Christian – 46
2. William Carey – 58
3. UT Southern – 80
4. Dalton State – 97
5. Mobile – 115
6. Loyola – 126
7. Life – 159
8. Faulkner – 255
9. Point – 263
10. Brewton-Parker – 274
11. Middle Georgia State – 302
12. Stillman – 303

Individual Finishes

6. Alyssa Andrea – 23:22

16. Olivia Barksdale – 24:15

18. Emma Vizina – 24:25

19. Miriam Schultz – 24:26

25. Amelia Worsley – 25:14

26. Cierra Arnold– 26:35

50. Jordan Greene – 27:38

59. Brianna Pearson – 29:59 

SSAC AWARDS

Coach of the Year: Phillip Laney, Blue Mountain Christian

Runner of the Year: Catherine Truemper, Blue Mountain Christian

Freshman of the Year: Maria Tirado, William Carey

Sportsmanship Award: Blue Mountain Christian

Noteworthy

·      Truemper earned Runner of the Year honors for the first time and is the first Topper to earn it since 2018

·      Laney guided the team to their first championship since 2017

·      Tirado claimed Freshman of the Year honors, becoming the second-straight Crusader to earn the award

·      The All-Conference Team is the top 15 finishers from the championship, while the All-Freshman Team is the top five freshman finishers

All-Conference Team

Catherine Truemper, Blue Mountain Christian

Blanca Conesa, William Carey

Maria Tirado, William Carey

Madisyn Acosta, Loyola

Isabelle Wheeler, William Carey

Alyssa Andrea, UT Southern

Giselle Dominguez, Dalton State

Cassandra Richards, Thomas

Madison Todd, Dalton State

Harley Garner, Blue Mountain Christian

Emeline Delaville, Life

Makayla Blessike, Blue Mountain Christian

Katie Meeks, Blue Mountain Christian

Ami Sherif, Blue Mountain Christian

Kaylea Holmes, Mobile

All-Freshman Team

Maria Tirado, William Carey

Alyssa Andrea, UT Southern

Madison Todd, Dalton State

Harley Garner, Blue Mountain

Emeline Delaville, Life

Barnes & Noble College All-Academic Team

Mary Alice Murner, Faulkner University

Courtney Hill, Faulkner University

Liza Hinrichs, Middle Georgia State

Marina Gonfaus, Middle Georgia State

Sophia Alexander, Thomas University

Jennifer Coleman, Thomas University

Victoria Richards, Thomas University

Dagbjort Magnesdottir, Life University

Cynthia Jeptoo, Life University

Ella Coley, Dalton State College

Giselle Dominguez, Dalton State College

Ashley Hartness, Dalton State College

Kayla Mattox, Dalton State College

Chazmere Anderson, Point University

Anna Brown, Point University

Carlie Pendley, UT Southern

Angel Wright, Blue Mountain Christian

Aubrey Britt, Blue Mountain Christian

Katie Meeks, Blue Mountain Christian

Catherine Truemper, Blue Mountain Christian

Jolee Doss, Blue Mountain Christian

Morgan Ellis, Blue Mountain Christian

Kirsten Hitt, Blue Mountain Christian

Emma Laney, Blue Mountain Christian

Kayley Burgess, University of Mobile

Kayla Johnston, University of Mobile

Haley Jones, University of Mobile

Reese Prestridge, University of Mobile

Madison Leishman, Loyola University

Isabel Esteb, Loyola University

Mallory Foret, Loyola University

Isabel Rodriguez Diaz, William Carey University

Isabelle Wheeler, William Carey University

Paige Anderson, William Carey University

Sarah Olamide, William Carey University

Quanesha Bruno, Stillman College

Kiera Fuqua-Brown, Stillman College

Noleyne Maiyo, Stillman College

Champions of Character Team

Ashley Hartness, Dalton State College

Kyja Williams, Life University

Christyauna Beasley, Point University

Sandra Recuenco Tarin, Middle Georgia State

Anders Ignoffo, Brewton-Parker College

Paige Anderson, William Carey University

Olivia Barksdale, UT Southern

Valentine Lagat, Stillman College

Cassandra Richards, Thomas University

Kayley Burgess, University of Mobile

Sarah Haas, Loyola University

Katie Meeks, Blue Mountain Christian

Courtney Hill, Faulkner University

FOLLOW THE FIREHAWKS

Don't miss a minute of the latest action surrounding UTS Athletics by following the Firehawks on Twitter (@GoFirehawks), Instagram (@gofirehawks), and Facebook (@UTSathletics).