The South Atlantic Conference Announces AstroTurf SAC Men’s & Women’s Cross Country Runners of the Week, Oct. 14

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – Mars Hill's Alex Griggs has been named the AstroTurf South Atlantic Conference Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week, while Queens' Catie Byrd has been named the AstroTurf South Atlantic Conference Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week for races Oct. 5-11, the League announced today.

Griggs, a senior from Statesville, N.C., was the highest placing Division II runner at the Royals Challenge on Oct. 9 hosted by Queens University of Charlotte. His 8k time of 24:23.10 set a new Mars Hill record, breaking the previous record of 24:41. Griggs finished third place overall while the Lions placed eighth overall and fifth among Division II schools. The honor marks his third Runner of the Week plaudit this season. 

Catie Byrd, a senior from Zirconia, N.C., crossed the line in 17:46.0 at the Royals Challenge, finishing fourth overall in a field of 324 athletes that spanned across all divisions of the NCAA. Byrd also was the fastest Division II runner in the race. Queens finished sixth overall with a score of 202 and placed second among Division II schools trailing only to Lee who finished fifth overall. This honor marks her second Runner of the Week nod this season.

2015 SAC AstroTurf Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week
Sept. 9 - Lachlan Dickie, Carson-Newman
Sept. 16 - Alex Griggs, Mars Hill
Sept. 23 - Yannick Stubbe, Queens
Sept. 30 - Alex Griggs, Mars Hill
Oct. 7 - Lachlan Dickie, Carson-Newman
Oct. 14 - Alex Griggs, Mars Hill

2015 SAC AstroTurf Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week
Sept. 9 - Whitney Elliott, Lincoln Memorial
Sept. 16 - Abbie Adams, Catawba
Sept. 23 - Catie Byrd, Queens
Sept. 30 - Haylee Love, Anderson
Oct. 7 - Pauline Muiruri, Tusculum
Oct. 14 - Catie Byrd, Queens