Updated 11/12/06 -- 8:30pm

Maryville, Tenn. – At the NCAA South Regional, both of Belmont’s cross country teams posted top-10 finishes at the meet held Saturday in Maryville, Tennessee.

The Belmont men finished an impressive seventh in Saturday’s race, beating schools like Mississippi State, Georgia State, Ole Miss, Auburn, and Vanderbilt. They had two runners finish among the top-15 and saw all five scoring runners place in the top-50. Sophomore Kipkosgei Magut finished 10th with a 10K time of 31:37.3. He finished 20 seconds short of qualifying for the NCAA Championships as an individual. Teammate and senior Ryan Snellen closed out his career with a 13th place finish and a time of 31:42.1. Both individuals were named All-South for their performance. BU’s other three scoring runners were junior Kevin Stone in 42nd and a time of 33:02, sophomore Caleb Swartz in 43rd and a time of 33:05, and freshman and Lebanon HS product Clay Hannah in 47th with a time of 33:05.2. Belmont’s other finishers included Jacob Buckman in 56th with a time of 33:28 and Brad Polley in 60th place and a time of 33:36.

The BU women placed ninth overall, beating out city rival Vanderbilt, Georgia State, Auburn, and Alabama. It was the fifth time in seven years that BU had finished in the top-10 at the Regional meet. The Bruins had three runners finish among the top-50. They were led by junior Lauren Williams who finished 22nd with a time of 22:06. She finished sixth tenths short of qualifying for Nationals. However, the Nashville native was named All-South for her performance on Saturday. Senior and Brentwood native Whitney Thurman placed 45th with a time of 22:44, while junior Elizabeth Smothers finished in 49th with a time of 22:47. Belmont’s other two scoring runners were freshman Brittany Thune in 61st place with a time of 23:10 and junior Megan Saunders in 91st place with a time of 24:17. Belmont’s other finishers included: Laura Kaplan in 104th with a time of 24:43 and Jennifer Hanahan in 130th with a time of 25:41.

For full results from the meet, go to www.utsports.com or www.ncaasports.com.

This meet marks the end of the season for the Belmont cross country teams.