The Lenoir-Rhyne Women’s and Men’s Cross Country Teams opened their 2023 season Saturday morning with the SAC Preview at Southside Park in Newton, N.C. Southside Park is the host of the 2023 SAC Championship in just 42 days on October 21. Wingate, Carson-Newman and Newberry joined the Bears to open the season with a preview of the SAC Championship course.

The women’s team finished in third place behind Wingate and Carson-Newman in their 6K race. Carolin Fuehren was the top finisher for LR with a 24:19.69 time good for 15th place. Elizabeth Kessler was right behind Fuehren in 16th place. Olivia Overholt and Elisabeth Ronnstad also finished back to back in 26th and 27th place respectively.

On the men’s side, the Bears finished 4th behind Davidson, Wingate and Carson-Newman. Davidson was the only non-SAC team that joined the race. Jacob Parkinson finished 3rd overall with a 26:38.24. Lewis Budgen had an 8th place finished with a 27.03.99 in his first race of the season. After Parkinson and Budgen’s top ten finishes, the Bears did not have anyone cross the line until 31st place with Garrison Fisher. Isaac Riggs was right behind Fisher for 32nd place.

Both teams will now head to Daholnega, GA on September 30th for the Southeast Regional Preview hosted by North Georgia University.