RESULTS

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Queens University of Charlotte Men's and Women's Cross Country programs both finished second in the South Atlantic Conference Championships on Saturday morning. It has been two years since the last South Atlantic Conference Cross Country Championships were held, and this year the Royals hosted the event at McAlpine Creek Park in Charlotte.
 
The morning opened with the men's 8-kilometer race which featured some of the best runners in the nation. The race for the lead was tight early as Wingate, Queens, and Anderson each had multiple runners bunched together. Down the final stretch, Royals leader Jan Lukas Becker made one last push and opened the lead up and took first place with a final time of 23:50.5. Wingate's Felix Nadeborn and Bastian Mrochen would cross in second and third respectively. Eric Keogh would pace himself well in the race and cross in seventh with a time of 24:08.5 and Mitch Cox placed 13^th at 24:50.4.
 
No. 9 Wingate would take the crown in the men's race placing seven runners in the top ten. The No. 18 Royals would come in second with a total time of 2:03.14. Catawba, Anderson, and Lincoln-Memorial would round out the top five in order.

Royals junior Jan Lukas Becker was recognized as the SAC Runner of the Year and First Team All-Conference. Eric Keogh also garnered First Team All-Conference accolades as well as SAC All-Freshman Team. Mitch Cox was tabbed Second Team All-Conference and Erick Sanchez earned Third Team All-Conference. 
 
Following the men's race, the women kicked off a 6-kilometer run which saw two Royals and a Bulldog go stride for stride the entire race. Fatima Alanis and Cherise Carreira teamed up for the Royals and challenged Lara Orrock of Wingate. Down the final stretch, Orrock would surge ahead and take first at 20:52.3. Alanis and Carreira would seal second and third place in order. Carreira is coming off a week in which she earned Astroturf SAC Runner of the Week and USTFCCCA National Runner of the Week honors. Anna Janke would continue her impressive sophomore campaign finishing ninth with a time of 22:05.3. Stevie Lawrence would place 13^th at 22:29.9 and Madison Webster came in at 16^th with a time of 22:36.7.
 
In the women's event, Wingate would take first as a team with a total time of 1:48:41. The Royals would come in second at 1:49:29. Lenoir-Rhyne, Anderson, and Catawba would round out the top five in order.

Queens' rookie Fatima Alanis would earn Freshman of the Year and First Team All-Conference honors for her sensational performances on the course. Cherise Carreira was recognized with First Team All-Conference honors. Anna Janke and Stevie Lawrence were tabbed with Second Team All-Conference honors and Madison Webster earned Third Team All-Conference. The young squad had three on the SAC All-Freshman Team, including Fatima Alanis, Cherise Carreira, and Anna Janke 
 
The Royals will now turn their attention to the NCAA DII Cross Country Southeast Regional Championship in Spartanburg, S.C. on Nov. 6. Be sure to follow the Royals on Instagram at queens_cross_ for the latest updates and news surrounding Queens cross country.