2024 Southern Conference Cross Country Championships

SoCon

Men’s Cross Country

The Citadel Track & Field / Cross Country

The Citadel

Citadel

Women’s Cross Country

Men’s Indoor Track & Field

Women’s Indoor Track & Field

Men’s Outdoor Track & Field

Women’s Outdoor Track & Field

🎥 We caught up with Carson Diggs following two strong performances in the first meets of the season! 🗣️⬆️

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MercerXCTF

Mercer

Nikki Harris is just that good 🔥  

#DefendTheDen https://t.co/sQ7AC7wxQu

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Nikki Harris is just that good 🔥

#DefendTheDen https://t.co/UP3nlqJoEy

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Putting in the miles!🏃‍♂️💨

Next up: Georgia Tech Invitational!

#FortressOfTheSouth https://t.co/L8gtGhelfZ

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Prepare for liftoff! 🚀

The Women XC team jumped seven places in the USTFCCCA South Region Ranking!

#DefendTheDen https://t.co/iptwcZvPTA

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UNCGXC

UNC Greensboro

North Carolina Greensboro

5K flicks from Cary 🎞️

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Men’s Season Opener ☑️

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RECAP | Men’s Cross Country Opens Season in Sixth at the adidas Cross Country Challenge 

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RECAP | Women’s Cross Country Places Eighth at the adidas Cross Country Challenge 

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Our men’s squad places 6th out 15 squads to open the 2026 season at the adidas Cross Country Challenge! 🏁

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<div class="payload-richtext">SPARTANBURG, SC – Mercer graduate student Nikki Harris and ETSU sophomore Garrett Hawkins were named SoCon Cross Country Athletes of the Week for races held between September 16-22. Harris (Ocala, FL) ran a time of 17:13.7 to finish 19th overall at the 2026 Southern Showcase (5K) in Huntsville, AL. She was the top SoCon finisher in a loaded field, leading the Bears to a fourth-place finish in the team standings – just off the pace of Auburn and ahead of Mississippi State. Harris averaged 5:32.7 per mile in the race. Hawkins (Knoxville, TN) finished fourth individually at the 2026 Hokie Invitational (8K) with a time of 24:42.9 – less than two seconds off the pace of Virginia Tech’s Will Fadden. Hawkins averaged 4:58.3 per mile and led the Bucs to a second-place team finish behind host Virginia Tech. ETSU junior Hayden Waleski (8th) also posted a top-10 finish to help power the Bucs’ team effort. Also Nominated (W): Deena Ludtke (ETSU), Lakin Hailey (Tennessee Tech), Hailey Meyers (UNCG) Also Nominated (M): Khalid Abdullahi (UNCG), Jaleb Saunders (Western Carolina) 2026-27 SoCon Women’s Cross Country Runner of the WeekSep 9 – Mackenzie Armstrong, So., ETSU (Wheaton, IL)Sep 16 – Tessa Walter, So., Furman (Colorado Springs, CO)Sep 23 – Nikki Harris, Gr., Mercer (Ocala, FL) 2026-27 SoCon Men’s Cross Country Runner of the WeekSep 9 – Will Poelker, So., Mercer (St. Louis, MO)Sep 16 – Chris Knight, Sr., Furman (Signal Mountain, TN)Sep 23 – Garrett Hawkins, So., ETSU (Knoxville, TN)</div>

XC AOW September 23

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The Southern Conference

Southern Conference

ETSU Buccaneers

East Tennessee State University

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<div class="payload-richtext">SPARTANBURG, SC – Furman sophomore Tessa Walter and senior Chris Knight were named SoCon Cross Country Runners of the Week for races held between September 9-15. Walter (Colorado Springs, CO) won the 2026 Furman Cross Country Invitational women’s 6K with a time of 20:22.82, pacing sweep that gave the Paladins a perfect 15 points and the team title. Her finish beat the field by 30 seconds and was only eight seconds off her personal best time set last season. She posted an average mile time of 5.28. Furman, once again the preseason SoCon favorite, saw its five runners average a time of 20:57, which was nearly two minutes faster than the next closest team in the field. Knight (Signal Mountain, TN) won the 2026 Furman Cross Country Invitational men’s 6K with a personal-best time of 17:11.80, more than 11 seconds faster than his closest competitor. All five Furman runners finished in the top 8 to lead the preseason SoCon men’s favorite to the team title. Furman will be back in action on September 25 at the Tryon Fall XC Festival in Tryon, NC, and at the Sean Earl Loyola Lakefront Invitational in Chicago. Also nominated (Women): Jillian Sisk (VMI) 2026-27 SoCon Women’s Cross Country Runner of the WeekSep 9 – Mackenzie Armstrong, So., ETSU (Wheaton, IL)Sep 16 – Tessa Walter, So., Furman (Colorado Springs, CO) 2026-27 SoCon Men’s Cross Country Runner of the WeekSep 9 – Will Poelker, So., Mercer (St. Louis, MO)Sep 16 – Chris Knight, Sr., Furman (Signal Mountain, TN)</div>

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Furman Paladins

Furman University

<div class="payload-richtext">SPARTANBURG, SC – The Southern Conference announced the predicted order of finish for the 2026 Cross Country season Thursday afternoon, with Furman picked to repeat on both sides. The conference’s 11 head coaches voted in the poll and were not allowed to vote for their own school. The Paladins will chase their 14th consecutive team title in women’s cross country and men’s cross country, with the 2026 Tryon Southern Conference Cross Country Championships, presented by Ingles, set for October 31 at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in Tryon, North Carolina. The consecutive win streaks for each Furman team (13) are the longest in SoCon history for cross country. Furman garnered 98 points and eight first-place votes to sit atop the women’s poll. Mercer (81 points) and Samford (73 points) also garnered at least one first-place vote to slot just behind the defending champion. The Paladins return eight runners who competed in last season’s SoCon Championship, led by individual champion Tessa Walter. Walter won last season’s championship race with a time of 17:03.70 as a freshman, edging classmate Nysa Males by just under six seconds. The Paladins picked up 100 points and the most possible first-place votes on the men’s side, followed by ETSU (79 points) and UNC Greensboro (74 points). Furman welcomes back five runners who competed in Tryon last season, with Chris Knight the top returning finisher after taking bronze last November. ETSU returns 2025 SoCon Runner of the Year Jason Bowers to their lineup. Bowers won ETSU’s first individual title since 1995 with a time of 23:44.30 – beating the field by more than 30 seconds. The 2026 regular season begins this weekend, with all teams set to run on September 4 or 5.  2026 SoCon Women’s Cross Country Preseason Poll1. Furman (8) - 982. Mercer (2) - 813. Samford (1) - 734. Chattanooga - 705. Western Carolina - 626. Tennessee Tech - 597. ETSU - 568. UNC Greensboro - 399. VMI - 3210. Wofford - 2111. The Citadel - 14-2026 SoCon Men’s Cross Country Preseason Poll1. Furman (10) - 1002. ETSU (1) - 793. UNC Greensboro - 744. Chattanooga - 685. Samford - 576. Tennessee Tech - 537. Mercer - 518. Western Carolina - 499. VMI - 3410. The Citadel - 2111. Wofford - 19</div>

SoCon XC Poll 2026

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<div class="payload-richtext"><h1>2026 Cross Country Championships</h1>Oct. 31, 2026 • <a href="https://www.resort.tryon.com/">
 Tryon Equestrian Center
 </a> • Mill Spring, NC<a href="https://vivenu.soconsports.com/section/-ote3">
 Buy Tickets
 </a>Women's Race: 10:00 AM ET • Men's Race: 10:45 AM ET • Awards ceremony following men's race<ul class="list-bullet"><li
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 >Record Book</li><li
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 >Championship Preview</li><li
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 >Championship Recap</li><li
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 >Men's Results</li><li
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 >Photo Gallery</li></ul> <hr /> Review of past championships:<a href="https://soconsports.com/mxc/article/blt36b0c97b997d6365/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 2025
 </a> <a href="https://soconsports.com/mxc/article/bltbf3ac17b4f46fb18/">
 2024
 </a> <a href="/mxc/article/blt299778a67baf4dc1/">
 2023
 </a> <a href="/mxc/article/blt9543444a83d43c2f/">
 2022
 </a> <a href="/wxc/article/bltc237b810c85ed18e/">
 2021
 </a> <a href="/wxc/article/blt576f92b12e954993/">
 2020
 </a> <a href="/mxc/article/bltde50331b60932516/">
 2019
 </a> <a href="/mxc/article/bltcd8d294ce01d40df/">
 2018
 </a> <a href="/mxc/article/bltf8c79eaaaf2e69df/">
 2017
 </a> <a href="/mxc/article/blt9be1d363330c18ba/">
 2016
 </a> <a href="/mxc/article/bltf87fbdb3bff1bd9a/">
 2015
 </a> <a href="/mxc/article/blt949c4c3bda28d35b/">
 2014
 </a> <a href="/mxc/article/blt18dd7a33042e40e9/">
 2013
 </a> <a href="/mxc/article/blt5c6f8a011b840356/">
 2012
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 2011
 </a> <a href="/mxc/article/blt2598692700463703/">
 2010
 </a> <a href="/mxc/article/bltbaa0f31080c540aa/">
 2009
 </a>Participating institutions:<a href="http://www.citadelsports.com/?&DB_OEM_ID=4000">
 CIT
 </a> // <a href="http://www.etsubucs.com/?&DB_OEM_ID=4000">
 ETSU
 </a> // <a href="http://www.furmanpaladins.com/landing/index?&DB_OEM_ID=4000">
 FUR
 </a> // <a href="http://www.mercerbears.com/landing/index?DB_OEM_ID=4000">
 MER
 </a> // <a href="http://www.uncgspartans.com/?&DB_OEM_ID=4000">
 UNCG
 </a> // <a href="http://samfordsports.com/index.aspx?DB_OEM_ID=4000">
 SAM
 </a> // <a href="http://www.gomocs.com/?&DB_OEM_ID=4000">
 UTC
 </a> // <a href="https://www.ttusports.com/sports/wxc/index" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 TTU
 </a> // <a href="http://www.vmikeydets.com/?DB_OEM_ID=4000">
 VMI
 </a> // <a href="http://www.catamountsports.com/?&DB_OEM_ID=4000">
 WCU
 </a> // <a href="http://athletics.wofford.edu/?&DB_OEM_ID=4000">
 WOF
 </a>2025 ChampionsMen: Furman (team) / Jason Bowers, ETSU (individual)Women: Furman (team) /  Tessa Walter, Furman (individual)</div>

2026 Tryon Southern Conference Cross Country Championships presented by Ingles

2026 Women's Cross Country Championship

2026 Men's Cross Country Championships

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Furman's Knight Posts PR To Finish 156th At NCAA Championships

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Furman's Chris Knight Earns Bid To NCAA Championship

<div class="payload-richtext">SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Seven Southern Conference (SoCon) teams competed in their region-specific NCAA Regional meets this weekend. Teams from South Carolina and North Carolina competed in the Southeast Regional meet, while teams from Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee competed in the South Regional meet. On the women’s side, Furman finished 12th of 36 in the Southeast Region, while Western Carolina finished 30th. SoCon Women’s Runner and Freshman of the Year, Tessa Walter, of Furman, had the highest finish among SoCon runners in the 6K coming in 27th with a time of 20:13.5. Leading the Catamounts was Katherine Hopkins who finished 137th with a time of 22:09.2. In the South Regional, the Mercer women finished 14th of 28, the Chattanooga women finished 20th , and the ETSU women finished 24th. The Bears’ Mary Grace Parker, 27th, was the highest finishing SoCon athlete with a time of 20:08.86. Maddie Wheatcroft led the Mocs, finishing 57th, while Sophie Beach led the Bucs, finishing 119th.  In the men’s 10K, Furman placed 7th of 33 and UNCG placed 22nd in the Southeast Regional. Three-time runner of the week, Chris Knight, finished 20th to lead all SoCon runners in the race with a time of 30:10.0. Khalid Abdullahi was the first Spartan to cross the finish line, running a time of 32:13.4.  Chattanooga, Mercer, Samford, and ETSU’s men finished 19th, 20th, 23rd, and 24th, respectively, of the 27 teams that competed in the South Region. The Mocs’ Jackson Martin finished 38th, leading all SoCon competitors, and finished the 10K with a time of 30:43.37. David Brown (Samford-89th), Yianni Pothoulakis (Mercer-90th), and William Harting (ETSU-116th) were the leading runners for their respective teams. The NCAA Cross Country Selection Committee will announce 14 at-large selections during a selection show on November 15th at 5 p.m. ET. </div>

NCAA XC Logo Wide

NCAA Regional Recap_XC

<div class="payload-richtext">MILL SPRING, N.C. — Furman University continued its cross country success with both the men’s and women’s teams earning their 13th consecutive titles at the 2025 Southern Conference Cross Country Championships. Tessa Walter of Furman won the women’s individual race, while ETSU’s Jason Bowers claimed the men’s individual title. The women’s 5K race began at 10 a.m. Walter finished first with a time of 17:03.7, improving on her season-opening mark of 17:21.10, notching a season’s best. A three-time Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week honoree, Walter was named the 2025 Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Year and Freshman of the Year. She is the 13th consecutive women’s individual champion from Furman. Teammates Nysa Males and Rory Sullivan also placed in the top five, finishing second and fifth, respectively. Emma Jones, a business administration major, received the 2025 Women’s Pinnacle Award. The men’s 8K race followed at 10:45 a.m. Bowers led from the start and secured the individual title after a season that included three consecutive wins and three Runner of the Week honors. He was named the 2025 Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Year. Furman runners placed second through seventh in the men’s race, securing the team title. Luke Taylor, a mathematics and economics major, was recognized with the 2025 Men’s Pinnacle Award.  UNCG’s Luke Hühn earned the Men’s Freshman of the Year honor as the top true freshman finisher. WOMEN’S TEAM POINTS  1.Furman 23  2.Mercer 68 3.Chattanooga 82 4.Western Carolina 123 5. Samford 129  6. ETSU 140  7. VMI 206 8. UNCG 212 9.Wofford 244 10. The Citadel 300 2025 Southern Conference Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Year  Tessa Walter, Furman 2025 Southern Conference Women’s Cross Country Freshman of the Year Tessa Walter, Furman 2025 Southern Conference Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year Rita Gary, Furman 2025 Southern Conference Women’s Cross Country Pinnacle Award Winner Emma Jones, Furman First Team All-Conference Tessa Walter, Furman  Nysa Males, Furman  Mary Grace Parker, Mercer Maddie Wheatcroft, Chattanooga  Rory Sullivan, Furman  Felicity Hamilton, Samford  Zoie Lamanna, Furman Second Team All-Conference Jais Ward, Furman  Annie Miller, Furman  Nichole Harris, Mercer Katherine Bannigan, Furman  Emma Jones, Furman  Leah Boyd, Chattanooga Sophie Beach, ETSU  All-Freshman Team Tessa Walter, Furman  Nysa Males, Furman Mary Grace Parker, Mercer Rory Sullivan, Furman  Zoie Lamanna, Furman  Jais Ward, Furman  Annie Miller, Furman MEN’S TEAM POINTS 1.Furman 20 2.ETSU 85 3.UNCG 104 4. Chattanooga 105 5.Samford 115 6.Mercer 129 7. Western Carolina 157 8. VMI 231 9.The Citadel 273 10.Wofford 288 2025 Southern Conference Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Year  Jason Bowers, ETSU  2025 Southern Conference Men's Cross Country Freshman of the Year Luke Hühn, UNCG 2025 Southern Conference Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year Robert Gary, Furman 2025 Southern Conference Men's Cross Country Pinnacle Award Winner Luke Taylor, Furman All-Freshman Team Rives Boltwood, Furman  Matteo Tonnos, Furman  Tripp Roemer, FurmanLuke Huhn, UNCG  Matthias Peterson, Western Carolina Jaleb Saunders, Western CarolinaEli Clonch, Western Carolina First Team All-Conference Jason Bowers, ETSU  Albert Velikonja, Furman  Christopher Knight, Furman  Bryn Woodall, Furman  Luke Taylor, Furman  Rives Boltwood, Furman  Matteo Tonnos, Furman Second Team All-Conference Jackson Martin, Chattanooga Colton Kempney, Furman  Chance Underwood, ETSU  Tripp Roemer, Furman  Luke Hühn, UNCG  David Brown, Samford William Jordan, Samford </div>

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ETSU's Bowers and Furman's Walters claim runner of the year honors at XC Men's and Women's Championship, respectively

<div class="payload-richtext">MILL SPRING, N.C. -- The 2025 Ingles Southern Conference Cross Country Championships will be held on Saturday, Nov. 1, at the Tryon Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, N.C. This year’s championship marks two firsts with Tryon hosting for the first time, and Ingles becoming the title sponsor for the championship. The women’s 5K race begins at 10 a.m. ET, and the men’s 5K will follow at 10:45 a.m. ET. At the conclusion of the men’s race, there will be an awards ceremony to recognize the top teams and individual runners.  The Furman men’s and women’s squads are both 12-time defending champions of the event. The Paladins claimed the 2024 team titles on their home course. Both individual title winners, Dylan Schubert and Carly Wilkes, shattered course records during the championship en route to earning Runner of the Year honors. Furman’s Colin Eckerman was also named Freshman of the Year on the men’s side a year ago. Not only did Furman sweep the team champion and runner of the year honors, but Coaches Rita Gary and Robert Gary also claimed SoCon Coach of the Year honors on their home course.  The Western Carolina men and the Samford women each ranked second in their respective 2025 preseason coaches' polls behind the Paladins, matching their finishes from last year’s championships. Furman’s men are ranked seventh in the latest USTFCCA southeast regional poll. Mercer and Furman’s women’s teams are ranked 13th in the south and southeast region, respectively.  ETSU’s Jason Bowers owns the top 8k time in the conference this season, after running a 23:19.20 on Oct.18 at the South Region Showdown. The Bucs’ redshirt junior claimed three straight individual wins to finish out the regular season and was named the conference Runner of the Week three times this season.  On the women’s side, Chattanooga’s Maddie Wheatcroft tops the conference in the 5k after running a 17:20.89 at the Southern Showcase on Sept. 12.  Admission to the 2025 Southern Conference Cross Country Championship includes a $10 parking fee. Visit the <a href="https://soconsports.com/mxc/article/blt36b0c97b997d6365/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 SoCon Cross Country Championships
 </a> page for live results, photos and more from the championship. </div>

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<div class="payload-richtext">SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Furman’s Albert Velikonja and Tessa Walter have been named the Southern Conference Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week, respectively, following all competition held October 15-21. The Paladins closed out the regular season with a visit to Wisconsin for the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational. The Furman squads each placed 26th in their respective fields, but this week’s honorees both had strong performances among a national caliber field.  Walter placed 32nd with a time of 20:28.4 to claim her third weekly honor of the season. The Paladin newcomer has the top 6k time in the conference this season. The Furman women are 13th in the USTFCCCA’s latest southeast regional poll. Velikonja placed 37th with a time of 23:52.1 in the men’s 8k to lead the Furman men. The Furman graduate student and teammates are currently ranked seventh in the southeast region by USTFCCCA.  Furman will now look to defend their team title at the 2025 Ingles Southern Conference Championship on November 1. 2025 Southern Conference Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week  Sept. 3 - Chris Knight, Furman Sept. 10 - No Competition  Sept. 17 - Jason Bowers, ETSU  Sept. 24 - Jason Bowers, ETSU Oct. 1 - Chris Knight, Furman Oct. 8	- Jason Bowers, ETSU  Oct. 15 – No Nominations Oct. 22 – Albert Velikonja, Furman 2025 Southern Conference Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week  Sept. 3 -  Tessa Walter, Furman Sept. 10 - No Competition  Sept. 17 - Nichole Harris, Mercer Sept. 24 - Julia Visgueiro, ETSU  Oct. 1 - Tessa Walter, Furman Oct. 8 – Mary Grace Parker, Mercer Oct. 15 – Kate Bannigan, Furman Oct. 22 – Tessa Walter, Furman </div>

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<div class="payload-richtext">SPARTANBURG, S.C. – ETSU’s Jason Bowers and Mercer’s Mary Grace Parker have been named the Southern Conference Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Runners of the Week, respectively, following all competitions held October 1–7. The Buccaneers competed at the Live in Lou Cross Country Classic in Louisville, Kentucky. Bowers surged from 39th place at the 2.1-kilometer split to claim his second consecutive race victory. The ETSU redshirt junior crossed the finish line in 23:23.0—15 seconds ahead of the runner-up—earning his third Runner of the Week honor this season. Mercer’s women’s team raced in a competitive field of 14 teams at the Georgia Tech Invitational. Freshman Mary Grace Parker led the Bears with a fourth-place finish, clocking in at 20:56.3. It marked her second time as Mercer’s top finisher this season. The Wilsonville, Alabama native helped pace the Bears to a second-place team finish. Both teams are preparing for their final tune-ups ahead of the Southern Conference Championship. ETSU will travel to Salem, Virginia, for the Roanoke Invitational, while Mercer heads to College Station, Texas, for the Arturo Barrios Invitational. Also Nominated (Men): Jack Martin (Chattanooga)  Also Nominated (Women): Sophie Beach (ETSU), Maddie Wheatcroft (Chattanooga)  2025 Southern Conference Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week  Sept. 3 - Chris Knight, Furman Sept. 10 - No Competition  Sept. 17 - Jason Bowers, ETSU  Sept. 24 - Jason Bowers, ETSU Oct. 1 - Chris Knight, Furman Oct. 8	- Jason Bowers, ETSU  2025 Southern Conference Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week  Sept. 3 -  Tessa Walter, Furman Sept. 10 - No Competition  Sept. 17 - Nichole Harris, Mercer Sept. 24 - Julia Visgueiro, ETSU  Oct. 1 - Tessa Walter, Furman Oct. 8 – Mary Grace Parker, Mercer </div>

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<div class="payload-richtext">SPARTANBURG, S.C. –  Furman’s Chris Knight and Tessa Walter have been named The Southern Conference men's and women's cross-country runners of the week, respectively, after all competition from Sept 24-30.  The Paladins competed against multiple top 25 teams at the Gans Creek Classic in both the men’s and women’s fields, placing 20th of 32 and 21st of 32, respectively.   Knight placed 67th in the men’s 8k with a time of 23:32. Walter placed 55th, leading all Paladin women in the women’s 6k.   This marks Furman’s second program sweep of weekly honors this season, with Knight and Walter capturing the recognition in Week 1. Both Paladins have the top times in the SoCon this season.   Furman will take the course on Oct. 17 at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational in Madison, Wisconsin, as their final tune-up before the Southern Conference Championship.  2025 Southern Conference Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week  Sept. 3 - Chris Knight, Furman Sept. 10 - No Competition  Sept. 17 - Jason Bowers, ETSU  Sept. 24 - Jason Bowers, ETSU Oct. 1 - Chris Knight, Furman 2025 Southern Conference Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week  Sept. 3 -  Tessa Walter, Furman Sept. 10 - No Competition  Sept. 17 - Nichole Harris, Mercer Sept. 24 - Julia Visgueiro, ETSU  Oct. 1 - Tessa Walter, Furman </div>

Cross Country Runners of the Week October 1

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<div class="payload-richtext">SPARTANBURG, S.C. – ETSU's Jason Bowers and Julia Visgueiro have been named The Southern Conference men's and women's cross-country runners of the week, respectively, after all competition September 17-23.  The Buccaneers' squads each had impressive showings at the Hokie Invitational, with the men and women both finishing as runner-up in their respective races. Bowers earned his second weekly honor in a row after finishing first in the men's 8000m run. The only runner with a time under 23 minutes, the Bucs' senior finished in 22:31.1 to lead the pack of 84 runners.  In her first race of the season, Visgueiro finished the 6000m run in sixth with a time of 21:52.7. ETSU will travel to Louisville, Kentucky, for the Swags Louisville Cross Country Classic on October 4. 2025 Southern Conference Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week  Sept. 3       Chris Knight, Furman Sept. 10 	No Competition  Sept. 17	Jason Bowers, ETSU  Sept. 24	Jason Bowers, ETSU  2024 Southern Conference Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week  Sept. 3        Tessa Walter, Furman Sept. 10	No Competition  Sept. 17	Nichole Harris, Mercer Sept. 24	Julia Visgueiro, ETSU  </div>

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SoCon announces cross country athletes of the week 

<div class="payload-richtext">SPARTANBURG, S.C. – ETSU’s Jason Bowers and Mercer’s Nichole Harris have been named The Southern Conference men’s and women’s cross-country runners of the week, respectively, after all competition September 11-16. Both ETSU and Mercer competed at the Southern Showcase hosted by Jacksonville State on September 12. A native of Parys, South Africa, Bowers finished sixth with a time of 23:27.01 in the men’s  8000m run. The Bucs finished 17th in the 48-team field.  Harris, a senior with the Bears program, finished 21st in the field of 100 runners in the women’s 5000m run. The Ocala, Florida native helped pace Mercer to claim 8th place in the 53-team field. ETSU will visit the Hokies of Virginia Tech on September 19, while Mercer will visit fellow Peach State program Georgia Tech on October 3 to continue the 2025 season. </div>

xc917

<div class="payload-richtext">Furman University’s Chris Knight and Tessa Walter have been named the Southern Conference Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Runners of the Week, respectively, for all competition held between August 29 and September 2.The Paladins kicked off their 2025 season at the Eye Opener meet hosted by USC Upstate in Spartanburg, South Carolina on August 29.Knight, a junior from Signal Mountain, Tennessee, claimed the top spot in the men’s 8K race with a time of 24:44, leading the Furman men to a dominant 15-point team victory.Walter, a newcomer from Colorado Springs, Colorado, placed third overall in the women’s 5K with a time of 17:21. She was the top Southern Conference finisher in the race, helping the Furman women secure a runner-up team finish.Furman continues its 2025 campaign on September 13 when it hosts the Furman Invitational.Also Nominated – Men: Garrett Hawkins (ETSU), Buck Ledford (Mercer)Also Nominated – Women: Sophie Beach (ETSU), Mary Grace Parker (Mercer)2025 Southern Conference Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week September 3 – Chris Knight, Furman2025 Southern Conference Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week September 3 – Tessa Walter, Furman</div>

9.3 AOTW WEB.jpg

xc 9325

<div class="payload-richtext">Three Southern Conference cross country programs have earned top-15 regional rankings, as announced Monday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). The Furman men’s and women’s teams, along with the Samford women’s squad, all secured spots in their respective regional polls.Both Furman squads were tabbed to win their 13th consecutive league titles in last week’s SoCon preseason poll. The Paladin men are ranked fifth in the Southeast Region and tied with Michigan State for 30th nationally, and are led by Chris Knight, who finished third at last year's conference championship. The Furman women, led by standout Carly Wilkes and reigning SoCon champion, are ranked seventh in the Southeast.Samford’s women’s team, led by reigning SoCon Women’s Cross Country Freshman of the Year Felicity Hamilton, enters the season ranked 11th in the South Region.Furman and Samford will kick off their 2025 campaigns on Friday. The Paladins open at USC Upstate’s Eye Opener meet, while the Bulldogs begin at Jacksonville State’s Foothills Invitational. All remaining SoCon programs will also toe the starting line for the first time this weekend.</div>

furmanrank.png

XC National Poll

<div class="payload-richtext">SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Furman has been picked to win its 13th straight men’s and women’s Southern Conference cross country titles in voting of the league’s 10 head coaches, who could not vote for their own teams. Both Paladin squads, who have won each SoCon championship since 2013, received all nine possible first place votes for a total of 81 points. With the win at the 2024 SoCon Cross Country Championship on their home course, on Nov. 2, the Furman men, who claimed seven of the top ten individual spots, extended the league record for consecutive SoCon team titles—a distinction the Paladins claimed in 2023. The Furman women captured five of the top 10 individual spots, extending its own league record with a 12th straight team title. Western Carolina’s men, who finished second to the Paladins in 2024, were predicted to finish second, securing the remaining first-place vote en route to a total of 65 points. The Catamounts were followed by Samford with 62 points, UNCG and Mercer, who had 56 and 45 points, respectively. ETSU and Chattanooga followed closely, with 42 and 41 points, respectively. VMI came in eighth with 28 points, before Wofford (19) and The Citadel (11) rounded out the poll.  In the women’s poll, 2024 championship runner-up Samford was slotted second with 71 points and the remaining first-place vote. Chattanooga mirrored its 2024 finish, ranking third in the preseason poll with 63 points. ETSU was fourth in the poll with 56 points, while Mercer collected 46. Western Carolina was picked sixth with 44 points, ahead of UNCG, which garnered 36 points. VMI (23), Wofford (19) and The Citadel (11) took the final three positions in the poll. The 2025 cross country season will open on Friday, Aug. 29, with all squads competing during the opening weekend.  2025 Southern Conference Men’s Cross Country Preseason Poll Team (1st-place votes) Points <ol class="list-number"><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="1"
 >Furman (9) - 81 </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="2"
 >Western Carolina (1) - 65 </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="3"
 >Samford - 62  </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="4"
 >UNC Greensboro - 56 </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="5"
 > Mercer - 45  </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="6"
 >ETSU - 42  </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="7"
 >Chattanooga - 41  </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="8"
 >VMI - 28  </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="9"
 >Wofford - 19  </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="10"
 >The Citadel - 11 </li></ol>2025 Southern Conference Women’s Cross Country Preseason Poll Team (1st-place votes) Points <ol class="list-number"><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="1"
 >Furman (9) - 81 </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="2"
 >Samford (1) - 71  </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="3"
 >Chattanooga - 63 </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="4"
 >ETSU - 56  </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="5"
 >Mercer - 46 </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="6"
 >Western Carolina - 44 </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="7"
 >UNC Greensboro - 36 </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="8"
 >VMI - 23 </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="9"
 >Wofford - 19  </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="10"
 > The Citadel - 11 </li></ol></div>

XC PRESEASON POLL_WEB.jpg

82025 XC Preseason

Picucci_Steve_2025.png

Steve Picucci Named Mocs Cross Country/Track and Field Head Coach

<div class="payload-richtext"><h1>2025 Cross Country Championships</h1>Nov. 1, 2025 • <a href="https://www.resort.tryon.com/">
 Tryon Equestrian Center
 </a> • Mill Spring, NC Women's race: 10:00 a.m. • Men's race: 10:45 a.m. • Awards ceremony following men's race<ul class="list-bullet"><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="1"
 ><a href="https://img.boostsport.ai/boost-cms/CrossCountry25%20(1).pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 Record Book
 </a></li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="2"
 ><a href="https://x.com/search?q=%23SoConXC&src=typed_query">
 #SoConXC
 </a></li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="3"
 ><a href="https://soconsports.com/wxc/article/58789/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 Championship Preview
 </a></li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="4"
 ><a href="https://img.boostsport.ai/boost-cms/2025%20Cross%20Country%20Championship%20Program%20copy%20(1).pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 Championship Program
 </a></li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="5"
 ><a href="https://soconsports.com/article/58797/">
 Championship Recap
 </a></li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="6"
 ><a href="https://snapresults.snaptiming.com/meets/58778" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 Live Results
 </a></li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="7"
 ><a href="https://snapresults.snaptiming.com/meets/58778/events/xc/2152479" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 Men's Results
 </a></li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="8"
 ><a href="https://snapresults.snaptiming.com/meets/58778/events/xc/2152481" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 Women's Results
 </a></li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="9"
 ><a href="https://">
 Photo Gallery
 </a></li></ul> Review of past championships:<a href="https://soconsports.com/mxc/article/bltbf3ac17b4f46fb18/">
 2024
 </a> <a href="/mxc/article/blt299778a67baf4dc1/">
 2023
 </a> <a href="/mxc/article/blt9543444a83d43c2f/">
 2022
 </a> <a href="/wxc/article/bltc237b810c85ed18e/">
 2021
 </a> <a href="/wxc/article/blt576f92b12e954993/">
 2020
 </a> <a href="/mxc/article/bltde50331b60932516/">
 2019
 </a> <a href="/mxc/article/bltcd8d294ce01d40df/">
 2018
 </a> <a href="/mxc/article/bltf8c79eaaaf2e69df/">
 2017
 </a> <a href="/mxc/article/blt9be1d363330c18ba/">
 2016
 </a> <a href="/mxc/article/bltf87fbdb3bff1bd9a/">
 2015
 </a> <a href="/mxc/article/blt949c4c3bda28d35b/">
 2014
 </a> <a href="/mxc/article/blt18dd7a33042e40e9/">
 2013
 </a> <a href="/mxc/article/blt5c6f8a011b840356/">
 2012
 </a> <a href="/mxc/article/blt8abc67b3546a8764/">
 2011
 </a> <a href="/mxc/article/blt2598692700463703/">
 2010
 </a> <a href="/mxc/article/bltbaa0f31080c540aa/">
 2009
 </a>Participating institutions:<a href="http://www.citadelsports.com/?&DB_OEM_ID=4000">
 CIT
 </a> // <a href="http://www.etsubucs.com/?&DB_OEM_ID=4000">
 ETSU
 </a> // <a href="http://www.furmanpaladins.com/landing/index?&DB_OEM_ID=4000">
 FUR
 </a> // <a href="http://www.mercerbears.com/landing/index?DB_OEM_ID=4000">
 MER
 </a> // <a href="http://www.uncgspartans.com/?&DB_OEM_ID=4000">
 UNCG
 </a> // <a href="http://samfordsports.com/index.aspx?DB_OEM_ID=4000">
 SAM
 </a> // <a href="http://www.gomocs.com/?&DB_OEM_ID=4000">
 UTC
 </a> // <a href="http://www.vmikeydets.com/?DB_OEM_ID=4000">
 VMI
 </a> // <a href="http://www.catamountsports.com/?&DB_OEM_ID=4000">
 WCU
 </a> // <a href="http://athletics.wofford.edu/?&DB_OEM_ID=4000">
 WOF
 </a>2025 ChampionsMen: Furman (team) / Jason Bowers, ETSU (individual)Women: Furman (team) /  Tessa Walter, Furman (individual)
 <img
 alt="XCChamps.png"
 height="1080"
 src="https://img.boostsport.ai/boost-cms/XCChamps.png"
 width="1080"
 />
 </div>

INGLES XC.png

2025 Cross Country Championship

<div class="payload-richtext"><h1>2024 Cross Country Championships</h1>2024 Cross Country Championships Nov. 2 • Furman • Greenville, S.C. ( Furman Golf Course)Men's race 10:00 a.m. • Women's race 10:45 am • Awards ceremony following women's race<ul class="list-bullet"><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="1"
 ><a href="https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/blt90a281f2ef4c465c/bltcb898b401ed93956/672142f1ca492adda7b518b9/K9BSwQrw.png">
 Course Map (men)
 </a></li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="2"
 ><a href="https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/blt90a281f2ef4c465c/bltcb898b401ed93956/672142f1ca492adda7b518b9/K9BSwQrw.png">
 Course Map (women)
 </a></li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="3"
 ><a href="/api/media/file/876bfefc-2617-4265-8917-dce6a9a77b33-CrossCountry2024.pdf">
 Record Book
 </a></li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="4"
 ><a href="https://x.com/search?q=%23SoConXC&src=typed_query">
 #SoConXC
 </a></li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="5"
 ><a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheSouthernConference/">
 Facebook
 </a></li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="6"
 ><a href="https://www.instagram.com/thesouthernconference/?hl=en">
 Instagram
 </a></li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="7"
 ><a href="/api/media/file/af996361-4a09-438a-be40-977aa95a8ba1-2024_20Cross_20Country_20Championship_20Program.pdf">
 Championship Program
 </a></li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="8"
 ><a href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsnap.anet.live%2Fj0oz8z&data=05%7C02%7CLReed%40socon.org%7C33d91f08028d4412457208dcf8317a1f%7C2787eec415e5439ea10f0dc9f4616ae4%7C0%7C0%7C638658138607351253%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=sovG3W%2BLivNnTOPQ6rsiQSbOMbIMRvBfclHRywE0uAg%3D&reserved=0">
 Live Stats
 </a></li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="9"
 ><a href="/api/media/file/00a606c7-4c93-4213-b913-07a560673d70-SoCon_XC_Results.pdf">
 Men's Results
 </a></li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="10"
 ><a href="/api/media/file/ae9c3b1f-0a8b-4dae-9a50-85559c8afc9a-SoCon_XC_Results.pdf">
 Women's Results
 </a></li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="11"
 ><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/37roq2p3cpjspptv8zmrb/AKCrzTEGyKoQU82WuBtpz_8?rlkey=fxu2wptsyu242jg5bwvjqvm6j&e=1&dl=0">
 Photo Gallery
 </a></li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="12"
 ><a href="https://soconsports.com/article/bltfdb6f4c0bb4f5e03/">
 Highlights
 </a></li></ul>Spectator Info: Free AdmissionParking: <a href="https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/blt90a281f2ef4c465c/blt95cf9738e373499a/672143df9b78e70c43536655/XC_Parking.jpg">
 Map
 </a>Review of past championships:<a href="/mxc/article/blt299778a67baf4dc1/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 2023
 </a> <a href="/mxc/article/blt9543444a83d43c2f/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 2022
 </a> <a href="/wxc/article/bltc237b810c85ed18e/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 2021
 </a> <a href="/wxc/article/blt576f92b12e954993/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 2020
 </a> <a href="/mxc/article/bltde50331b60932516/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 2019
 </a> <a href="/mxc/article/bltcd8d294ce01d40df/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 2018
 </a> <a href="/mxc/article/bltf8c79eaaaf2e69df/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 2017
 </a> <a href="/mxc/article/blt9be1d363330c18ba/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 2016
 </a> <a href="/mxc/article/bltf87fbdb3bff1bd9a/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 2015
 </a> <a href="/mxc/article/blt949c4c3bda28d35b/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 2014
 </a> <a href="/mxc/article/blt18dd7a33042e40e9/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 2013
 </a> <a href="/mxc/article/blt5c6f8a011b840356/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 2012
 </a> <a href="/mxc/article/blt8abc67b3546a8764/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 2011
 </a> <a href="/mxc/article/blt2598692700463703/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 2010
 </a> <a href="/mxc/article/bltbaa0f31080c540aa/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 2009
 </a>Participating institutions:<a href="http://www.citadelsports.com/?&DB_OEM_ID=4000">
 CIT
 </a> // <a href="http://www.etsubucs.com/?&DB_OEM_ID=4000">
 ETSU
 </a> // <a href="http://www.furmanpaladins.com/landing/index?&DB_OEM_ID=4000">
 FUR
 </a> // <a href="http://www.mercerbears.com/landing/index?DB_OEM_ID=4000">
 MER
 </a> // <a href="http://www.uncgspartans.com/?&DB_OEM_ID=4000">
 UNCG
 </a> // <a href="http://samfordsports.com/index.aspx?DB_OEM_ID=4000">
 SAM
 </a> // <a href="http://www.gomocs.com/?&DB_OEM_ID=4000">
 UTC
 </a> // <a href="http://www.vmikeydets.com/?DB_OEM_ID=4000">
 VMI
 </a> // <a href="http://www.catamountsports.com/?&DB_OEM_ID=4000">
 WCU
 </a> // <a href="http://athletics.wofford.edu/?&DB_OEM_ID=4000">
 WOF
 </a>2024 ChampionsMen: Furman Paladins (team) / Furman's Dylan Schubert (individual)Women: Furman Paladins (team) / Furman's Carly Wilkes (individual)
 <img
 alt="91f83c0b-1b89-41a9-b3c3-2cb55f511ed3-0E0A4904.jpg"
 height="3866"
 src="https://img.boostsport.ai/boost-cms/91f83c0b-1b89-41a9-b3c3-2cb55f511ed3-0E0A4904.jpg"
 width="5799"
 />
 </div>

SoCon Men’s Cross Country News

Headlines

The SoCon Announces Cross Country Athletes of the Week

SoCon Announces Cross Country Athletes of the Week

Furman Picked to Repeat in SoCon Cross Country Polls

2026 Tryon Southern Conference Cross Country Championships presented by Ingles

Furman's Knight Posts PR To Finish 156th At NCAA Championships

Furman's Chris Knight Earns Bid To NCAA Championship

SoCon Cross Country Teams Finish NCAA Regional Meets

ETSU's Bowers and Furman's Walters claim runner of the year honors at XC Men's and Women's Championship, respectively

2025 Cross Country Championship Preview

SoCon XC athletes of the week announced

SoCon XC athletes of the week announced

Furman's Knight, Walter, Named SoCon Cross Country Runners of the Week

SoCon announces cross country athletes of the week

ETSU's Bowers and Mercer's Harris named XC Athletes of the Week

Furman’s Knight and Walter Named SoCon Cross Country Runners of the Week

SoCon Cross Country Teams Earn Regional Recognition

Paladins picked to win Southern Conference XC Titles

Steve Picucci Named Mocs Cross Country/Track and Field Head Coach

2025 Cross Country Championship

2024 Cross Country Championship

Edit