SPARTANBURG, S.C. ? The Southern Conference cross country coaches have selected Western Carolina cross country runner Stephen Hammond as the SoCon Runner of the Week for last weekend’s meets, the conference office announced today.

Hammond, a junior honor roll student majoring in physical education, won the Western Carolina Open 5K with a time of 15:50. The win was Hammond’s first collegiate cross country individual win and came with the temperature hovering around 85 degrees and high humidity.

Hammond’s effort helped lead the Catamounts to a first-place finish in their home meet in a field that also included UNC Asheville, Gardner-Webb, King College, Newberry and Warren Wilson College. 

Also nominated for the award was Appalachian State’s Josh Houser, who finished ninth out of a field of 114 at the Covered Bridge Open. The junior business major finished the 8K course in 26:20 and helped lead the Mountaineers to a third-place finish in the meet.