BJU Cross Country Runner Samuel Koenke Named to NCCAA All-Region Team

2016 Oct 27

The National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) has named Samuel Koenke as well as five other Bruins cross country runners to the DII All-Region team. The selections for the All-Region team are based upon finishing results at the region meet. The meet took place this past weekend as part of the Sand Shark Invitational in Bluffton, South Carolina.

"These six athletes have worked incredibly hard all-season to put themselves in good position the final few weeks of the season, and the region results show it," Head Coach Landon Bright said.

Runners who place in the top 1-7 of the meet were named to the 1st team all-region team while 8-14 finishers made 2nd team all-region. Although the tournament field was over 215 runners, results were calculated for teams competing in the South region of the NCCAA.

Koenke, a resident of Greer, earned 1st team honors as he placed in the top-7 to be named to the All-Region 1st team. Koenke has been a dominant force for the men's team and has helped the Bruins to one of their most successful campaigns in program history.

"It has been rewarding to watch Sam improve by so much and be able to excel both athletically and academically," Coach Bright said. "Making our All-Region team is not an easy task and it's great to see us make a dent in the region results."

The Bruins will finish the 2016 regular season on Saturday as they compete in the TFC Invitational at Toccoa Falls College. The team will then compete in the NCCAA National Championship meet on November 12 at Mississippi College.