SoCon Announces Cross Country Athletes of the Week

SPARTANBURG, SC – ETSU sophomore Mackenzie Armstrong and Mercer sophomore Will Poelker were named SoCon Cross Country Athletes of the Week for races held between September 4-8.

Armstrong (Wheaton, IL) ran a 5K time of 18:43.7 at the 2026 Eye Opener Meet in Spartanburg, SC, finishing 16^th individually and leading ETSU to a fourth-place team finish behind South Carolina, Clemson, and Liberty. Armstrong posted the best 5K time among SoCon runners on opening weekend and had an average mile time of 6:01.6.

Poelker (St. Louis, MO) ran a 6K time of 19:32.9 to finish second at the Julius Johnson Invitational in Macon, GA. His effort paced Mercer to the team championship, with teammates Colby Bornstein, Jacob Peters, and Andrew Jacknewitz rounding out the top 5 individually in that race.

The ETSU women will race next on September 18 at the Virginia Tech Hokie Invitational in Blacksburg, VA. The Mercer men will race next on September 18 at the Southern Showcase in Huntsville, AL.

Also nominated (Women): Ania San Roman Lopez (Mercer), Hailey Myers (UNCG, Lakin Hailey (Tennessee Tech)

Also nominated (Men): Zak Myles-Hawkins (Tennessee Tech), Alexander Ruge (Western Carolina), Garrett Hawkins (ETSU)

2026-27 SoCon Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week

Sep 9 – Mackenzie Armstrong, So., ETSU (Wheaton, IL)

2026-27 SoCon Men’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week

Sep 9 – Will Poelker, So., Mercer (St. Louis, MO)