Mars Hill Captures 16th-Straight SAC Men's Cross Country Title

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – The Mars Hill men's cross country program continued its reign over SAC cross country on Saturday, winning its 16th-consecutive Food Lion SAC Championship on the campus of Tusculum College.

The Lions dominated the race, with five runners finishing in the top 10 of the individual standings and none placing lower than 22nd.

MHC was led by Alex Griggs -- who placed second in the individual standings to earn SAC Freshman of the Year honors -- Cesar Reyes, who finished third, and Brady Adcock, who placed seventh. All three earned All-SAC First Team accolades, a distinction determined by Saturday's results.

Wingate finished second in the team standings behind individual champion and SAC Runner of the Year Steve Hammond's time of 26.26. Hammond's title came after finishing seventh at last season's SAC Championship.

Lenoir-Rhyne placed third as a team, followed by No. 4 Lincoln Memorial.

LMU was paced by All-SAC First Team runner Bradley Maldonado's sixth-place individual finish.

Brevard was fifth in the team standings, while Anderson finished in sixth place.

Tusculum placed seventh as a team, led by David Cooper, who earned a spot on the All-SAC First Team after coming in fourth in the individual standings.

Newberry finished eighth in the team standings, followed by No. 9 Catawba and No. 10 Carson-Newman.

After leading his team to another SAC title, Mars Hill's Mike Owens was named the SAC Coach of the Year, marking the 17th-straight season he has won the award.

[Complete Results]

2012 Food Lion SAC Cross Country Championship Team Standings

Team (Score)

1. Mars Hill (27)

2. Wingate (97)

3. Lenoir-Rhyne (102)

4. Lincoln Memorial (115)

5. Brevard (139)

6. Anderson (141)

7. Tusculum (191)

8. Newberry (194)

9. Catawba (197)

10. Carson-Newman (253)

2012 All-SAC Team

First Team

Steve Hammond, Wingate

Alex Griggs, Mars Hill

Cesar Reyes, Mars Hill

David Cooper, Tusculum

Eric Blackburn, Mars Hill

Bradley Maldonado, Lincoln Memorial

Brady Adcock, Mars Hill

Second Team

Aaron Nelson, Lenoir-Rhyne

Parks Edwards, Anderson

Carter Benge, Mars Hill

Christian Crifasi, Catawba

Patrick Helmick, Brevard

Kiel Bollero, Mars Hill

Binyam Belachew, Wingate

All-Freshman Team

Alex Griggs, Mars Hill

Cesar Reyes, Mars Hill

Patrick Helmick, Brevard

Ryan Mecca, Lincoln Memorial

Chase Shermer, Mars Hill

SAC Runner of the Year: Steve Hammond, Wingate

SAC Freshman of the Year: Alex Griggs, Mars Hill

SAC Coach of the Year: Mike Owens, Mars Hill