Men's Cross Country Southern Conference

ASU Men, UTC Women Take SoCon Cross Country Titles

PHOTOS FROM CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP

 

SPARTANBURG, S.C. ? The Appalachian State men’s cross country team and the Chattanooga women’s cross country team won the 2008 Southern Conference Cross Country Championships, which were held Saturday at Milliken Park in Spartanburg, S.C.

 

On the men’s side the Mountaineers placed four runners in the top 10 to help the team outpace the field as they won their fourth straight SoCon title. Leading the way for the team was senior Asmeron Desta, who finished second in the 8K with a time of 24:35.18.

 

Chattanooga sophomore Emmanual Kirwa outkicked Desta to claim the men’s individual title in a time of 24:35.18.

 

On the women’s side, Chattanooga held off conference newcomer Samford, 62-60, by placing all five qualifying runners in the top 20, to take the team title for the third straight year. Leading the way for the Lady Mocs was sophomore Tara Gietema, who finished fifth in the 5K with a time of 18:04.47.

 

Furman junior Megan Lordi pulled away from the field to claim the women’s individual title in a time of 17:22.03.

 

Appalachian State head coach Mike Curcio was named Men’s Coach of the Year, while Kirwa was selected Runner of the Year and Chattanooga’s Joshue Vasquez was tabbed Freshman of the Year.

 

Vasquez finished the race in 25:28.83 to claim the award.

 

Chattanooga head coach Bill Gautier was named Women’s Coach of the Year, while Lordi was selected Runner of the Year and Samford’s Andrea Seccafien was tabbed Freshman of the Year.

 

Seccafien finished the race in 18:10.33 to claim the award.

 

Full results can be viewed by clicking on the links below.

 

Next year’s SoCon Cross Country Championships will be held in Elon, N.C., on Halloween, October 31, 2009.

 

Team Scores ? Men

1. Appalachian State        40

2. Chattanooga                57

3. Furman                       70

4. Samford                    124

5. UNC Greensboro        126

6. Elon                          132

7. Western Carolina       197

8. Davidson                   198

9. College of Charleston  275

10. The Citadel              286

11. Wofford                    342

 

Team Scores ? Women

1. Chattanooga                60

2. Samford                     62

3. Furman                       77

4. Appalachian State        93

5. Davidson                   127

6. Elon                          150

7. Western Carolina       158

8. UNC Greensboro        203

9. College of Charleston  216

10. The Citadel              317

10. Georgia Southern     317

12. Wofford                    384

 

All-SoCon First Team ? Men

1. Emmanuel Kirwa ? So. ? Chattanooga

2. Asmeron Desta ? Sr. ? Appalachian State

3. Chris Berry ? So. ? Chattanooga

4. Patrick Morgan ? Sr. ? Furman

5. Phil Mitchell ? Jr. ? Appalachian State

6. Cameron Bean ? Sr. ? Samford

7. Alex Plasencia ? Sr. ? Furman

 

All-SoCon First Team ? Women

1. Megan Lordi ? Jr. ? Furman

2. Meghan Gaffney ? Gr. ? Appalachian State

3. Hillary Neal ? So. ? Samford

4. Sherrika Jordan ? Jr. ? UNC Greensboro 

5. Tara Gietema ? So. ? Chattanooga

6. Andrea Seccafien ? Fr. ? Samford

7. Emily Fourier ? So. ? Elon

 

All-SoCon Second Team ? Men

8. Charlie McGoogan ? So. ? Furman

9. Ryan O’Keefe ? Sr. ? Appalachian State

10. Josh Houser ? Jr. ? Appalachian State

11. Lance Harden ? Sr. ? Davidson

12. Joshue Vasquez ? Fr. ? Chattanooga

13. Jermaine Coore ? Fr. ? UNC Greensboro

14. Alec Meyer ? Jr. ? Appalachian State

 

All-SoCon Second Team ? Women

8. Caroline Sanker ? Sr. ? Davidson

9. Katie Williams ? Sr. ? Chattanooga

10. Chloe Kowalski ? Fr. ? Furman 

11. Sabrina LeFort ? Sr. ? Chattanooga

12. Brittany Johnson ? Jr. ? Furman

13. Hannah Parks ? Sr. ? Appalachian State

14. Deanna Zidar ? Fr. ? Samford

 

All-SoCon Freshman Team ? Men

12. Joshue Vasquez ? Chattanooga

13. Jermaine Coore ? UNC Greensboro

15. Sean Soderman ? Appalachian State

17. Zachary Flickinger ? Furman

18. Joey Thompson ? UNC Greensboro

29. Matt Baltimore ? Chattanooga

32. Josey Weaver ? Western Carolina

 

All-SoCon Freshman Team ? Women

6.   Andrea Seccafien ? Samford

10. Chloe Kowalski ? Furman 

14. Deanna Zidar ? Samford

23. Melanie Reyer ? Elon

24. Cori Christensen ? Samford

26. Erin Barker ? Furman           

32. Meredith White ? Chattanooga

 

Coach of the Year ? Men

Mike Curcio ? Appalachian State

 

Coach of the Year ? Women

Bill Gautier ? Chattanooga

 

Runner of the Year ? Men

Emmanuel Kirwa ? Chattanooga  

 

Runner of the Year ? Women

Megan Lordi ? Furman

 

Freshman of the Year ? Men

Joshue Vasquez ? Chattanooga

 

Freshman of the Year ? Women

Andrea Seccafien ? Samford