Conway, S.C.----Wingate freshman Steve Hammond (Warsaw, Ohio) finished 10th in the sixth Annual Coastal Carolina Cross Country meet, hosted by CCU at the Quail Creek Golf Course. The Bulldogs placed fourth out of seven teams.

Liberty won the meet with a score of 25, followed by UNC Wilmington with 56 points and Coastal with 94 points. The Wingate Bulldogs defeated South Carolina State, The Citadel and USC Beaufort.

In his first collegiate race, Hammond posted a 6K time of 20:04.50. Sophomore Andrew Smith (Oakboro, N.C.) was 15th, as he finished with a time of 20:18.20. Freshman Binyam Ateka Belachew (Ethiopia) was 25th, as he completed the event in 20:34.70.

Two freshmen took the fourth and fifth spots on the Bulldog charts. James Lawson (Wake Forest, N.C.) recorded a time of 21:44.00 to finish in 38th place, while Max Courtney (Monroe, N.C.) was 43rd with a 22:02.30 clocking. Thirteen runners finished the men’s race in the Bulldogs’ season opener.

“We were very happy with the men finishing fourth in a competitive race with several Division I teams,” Wingate head coach Dr. Dennis Johnson says. “Steve Hammond was impressive in his first collegiate race, coming out with a top-10 finish among this very strong field.”

The Wingate women finished sixth out of eight teams. The Bulldogs compiled 173 points, defeating USC Beaufort (182) and USC Aiken (192). Host Coastal Carolina won the meet with 31 points. Individually, the Chanticleers had five runners place in the top 10 Friday.

Bulldog freshman Keeley Wood (Sanford, N.C.) finished 33rd with a 5K time of 21:05.30 to lead Wingate. Classmates Brianna Stevens (Coshocton, Ohio) and Taylor Varnadoe (Marietta, Ohio) were 41st and 42nd, respectively. Stevens posted a 21:27.40, while Varnadoe recorded a 21:39.40.

Wingate senior and All-SAC performer Alicia Harbold (Ephrata, Pa.) and freshman Katherin Milholland (Lincolnton, N.C.) filled the Bulldogs’ final two scoring positions. Harbold was 44th at 21:54.50, while Milholland was 45th at 21:55.10. Thirteen runners finished the race for the Bulldogs.

“This race was a good learning experience for our women,” Johnson says. “We look forward to continued improvement throughout the season.”