SoCon Announces Cross Country Athletes of the Week

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 Week

Sep 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 Week

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

Sep 16 – Chris Knight, Sr., Furman (Signal Mountain, TN)