MILL SPRING, NC – The 2026 Tryon International Southern Conference Cross Country Championships, presented by Ingles, will be hosted on October 31 at the Tryon International Equestrian Center.
 
The men’s 8K race is set for 10:00 am ET, followed by the women’s 5K race at 10:45 am ET. Live results for both races are available here, courtesy of SnapTiming. Tickets for Saturday’s championship event are available at SoConTickets.com or via purchase at the venue Saturday morning.
 
The Tryon International Equestrian Center will serve as host for the second year in a row, with Furman capturing both team titles last season on the first day of November. ETSU’s Jason Bowers won the men’s individual title last season and returns this year for the Bucs. Furman’s Tessa Walter, who won the women’s race last season as a true freshman, is back to lead the Paladins in 2026.
 
Men’s Race (8K) – 10:00 AM Start Time
Furman enters the final weekend in October ranked No. 23 nationally and No. 4 in the Southeast Region, paced by a deep roster that boats the 10 fastest 8K times recorded this season by SoCon runners. Chris Knight has been the catalyst for the Paladins in 2026, with three SoCon Athlete of the Week awards under his belt – as well as the fastest 8K time this season (22:48.1 at the prestigious Sean Earl Loyola Lakefront Invite in Chicago).
 
The Paladins have won 13 SoCon Championships in a row – the longest stretch in league history, shared by the Furman women’s team – dating back to the 2013 Championship in Birmingham, AL. Furman moved past William & Mary, ETSU, and App State with its 16^th team title on the men’s side last season.
 
Bowers (ETSU) will look to become the first repeat champion since Dylan Schubert (Furman) won three consecutive races from 2022-2024. ETSU legend Seamus Power (1990-1993) holds the SoCon record with four consecutive individual titles.
 
Women’s Race (5K) – 10:45 AM Start Time
Furman is ranked No. 12 in the Southeast Region and Mercer is ranked No. 13 in the South Region entering Saturday’s 5K race. Both squads were also ranked in the top-15 in their respective regions prior to last season’s SoCon Championship.
 
Walter, the defending individual champion, will attempt to become the first winner of consecutive SoCon titles since former Paladin Bethany Graham did so in 2021 and 2022. Furman’s 17 team titles is the best in conference history, with 13 of those championships coming in consecutive years.
 
Walter has the SoCon’s fastest 6K time this season (19.42.7) – as well as three of the conference’s top-6 times. Mercer’s Nichole Harris (17:13.7) ran the fastest 5K time among SoCon runners this season, followed by Tennessee Tech freshman Lakin Hailey(17:17.3) and Mercer sophomore Mary Grace Parker (17:18.5).
 
For more information on the 2026 Tryon International SoCon Cross Country Championships, presented by Ingles, visit the SoConSports.com Championship Page.