ROCK HILL, SC — Bellarmine University cross country competed Friday in its first-ever Division I NCAA Southeast Regional Championship, which was held on the campus of Winthrop University.

Bellarmine's men placed 21st of 33 teams in their 10k race while the women placed 27th of 34 in their 6k race.

"The team left it all on the course today. In the largest and arguably the most competitive region in D1, our teams battled incredibly hard," Bellarmine director of cross country and track & field Jim Vargo said. "The men finished in the top half of the region and, for most of the race, were in contention for a top 15 spot. Our team goal for the women was to finish in the top 30 and to finish 27th was a huge team effort. For the women to be the third-best team among Kentucky universities today and the men fourth at an NCAA Regional Championship was special. The coaching staff is extremely proud of our teams. They always conduct themselves in a first-class manner and embody the student and athlete aspects of being a quality D1 student-athlete."

Junior Chase Atkins paced Bellarmine's men in 83rd (32:05.4). Senior Josh Meiman (113th, 32:36.3), senior Nolan Hester (115th, 32:38.5), junior Alex Hooten (116th, 32:38.7) and sophomore Will Nobbe (129th, 32:53.5) also scored for the Knights.

Atkins posted the 22nd-best 10k time in program history, Meiman's was 42nd, Hester's was 46th and Hooten's was 47th. In the first 10k races of their respective careers, Atkins entered the performance list at 14th, Meiman 26th, Hester 29th and Hooten 30th.

Junior Sierra Oesterling led Bellarmine's women in 140th (23:11.5). Seniors Taylor White (142nd, 23:14.7), Trisha Sexton (184th, 24:02.8), Hannah Ellis (203rd, 24:34.5) and Justice Pohlman-Singleton (205th, 24:37.9) completed the scoring for the Knights.

"The women ran exceptionally well," assistant coach Angela Musk said. "The course was VERY muddy and slow, which called for a change of strategy. They ran with a lot of grit in the final stages and moved us up a spot as a team. I'm very proud of the toughness they exhibited today. They beat my B and A goals for the squad!"

Women's 6k Results
140. Sierra Oesterling 23:11.5, 142. Taylor White 23:14.7, 184. Trisha Sexton 24:02.8, 203. Hannah Ellis 24:34.5, 205. Justice Pohlman-Singleton 24:37.9, 234. Sarah Jacob 25:55.5, 240. Ginger Atzinger 26:26.0

Men's 10k Results
83. Chase Atkins 32:05.4, 113. Josh Meiman 32:36.3, 115. Nolan Hester 32:38.5, 116. Alex Hooten 32:38.7, 129. Will Nobbe 32:53.5, 140. Jackson Gawarecki 33:03.6, 165. D.K. Schnieders 33:39.6

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