By: Jake Miller
HARTSVILLE, S.C.- The Coker men's and women's cross country teams will be competing at the South Atlantic Conference Championships on Saturday (Oct. 22) in Columbia, S.C.
As a team, the Coker men have placed in the top ten four times in 2016. The men finished fourth at the Palmetto State CC Festival (Sept. 3), second among Division II teams at the Coastal Carolina Invitational (Sept. 9), third at the Bulldog Stampede (Sept. 24) and sixth at the Great American XC Festival (Oct. 1). Jacob Chebii has made a strong showing in his sophomore campaign, notching three Top-20 finishes, two of them in the Top 10. He finished fifth (16:59.29) at the Coastal Carolina Invitational, sixth (27:50.66) at the Bulldog Stampede and 20th (28.05.9) at the Great American XC Festival.
The women's team has also had success as a whole, finishing second among Division II teams at the Coastal Carolina Invitational, seventh at the Bulldog Stampede and tenth at the Great American XC Festival. Darroneshia Lott has had a successful junior season, notching four Top-20 finishes including three in the Top 10. Lott finished third (21:13.09) at the Coastal Carolina Invitational, sixth (23:15.84) at the Bulldog Stampede, first (18.37) at the Great American XC Festival and 13th (17:57.1) at the Royal Challenge. Lott shattered the school record for the women's 5K with her win at the Great American XC Festival, and then broke her own record just a week later at the Royal Challenge. She now owns the top two 5K times in Coker history.
The races are slated for a 10:00 a.m. start.