SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Citadel’s Michael Lantz and Mercer’s Kami Orrender have been named the Southern Conference Men’s and Women’s Runner of the Week, respectively, for the weekend of August 29-31, the league office announced on Thursday.

Lantz finished second at the South Carolina Classic with a time of 15:54 on the 5K course at Fort Jackson, S.C. The native of Columbia, S.C. led the Bulldogs to a second-place team finish in the team’s season opening meet.

The freshman criminal justice major finished one spot ahead of his older brother and teammate, Raeven, who is a two-time SoCon Runner of the Week honoree.

Orrender, a junior from Crestwood, Ky., finished first at the Jacksonville State Struts Season Opener with a 4K time of 15:04 in the first race of the season. She finished over 16 seconds faster than the second-place finisher.

The business management major is the first Mercer runner to earn Runner of the Week honors in its first season in the league.