SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- The Furman men's and women's cross country teams swept the team titles for the fifth consecutive year Saturday at the 2017 Southern Conference Cross Country Championships at the Milliken Research Center in Spartanburg, S.C.
In the opening race of the day, the tenth-ranked Furman women's team scored 23 points for the win, taking six of the top nine spots, beating out second-place Samford who tallied 43 points. East Tennessee State finished third, followed by Chattanooga, and UNC Greensboro.
Paladin senior Allie Buchalski was named the SoCon Women's Runner of the Year for the third time in her career after winning the women's individual title with a time of 16:23.4 on the 5K course. Sophomore Savannah Carnahan, who was honored with the SoCon Pinnacle Award for holding the highest GPA on the championship team, joined Buchalski on the All-SoCon first team after placing third with a time of 16:46.7, along with sophomore Gabrielle Jennings, who turned in a fourth-place finish at 16:55.1. Sophomore Grace Dwyer claimed the final spot on the All-SoCon first with a seventh-place finish at 17:13.8.
Sophomore Emma Grace Hurley earned a spot on the All-SoCon second team and completed the Paladin slate of scorers after placing eighth with a time of 17:18.3. Hurley was followed by sophomore Riley Burr in ninth with a time of 17:24.1. Hurley and Burr were joined on the All-SoCon second team by rookie Kristlin Gear, who finished 14th with a time of 17:39.1 to also earn a spot on the SoCon All-Freshman team. Sophomore Jennifer Stephenson turned in a 17th-place finish with a time of 18:07.4, and rookie Emily Lane was honored as a member of the SoCon All-Freshman team after placing 19th with a tie of 18:11.8.
The seventh-ranked Furman men's team swept the top five spots in the men's race, scoring a perfect 15 points for the victory. All told, the Paladins took eight of the top nine spots in the 8K race, beating out second-place East Tennessee State, who placed second with 61 points. Samford was third, followed by Chattanooga, and VMI.
Furman junior Aaron Templeton was honored as the SoCon Men's Runner of the Year after winning the men's individual title with a time of 23:43.9. Senior Josh Brickell, who earned the SoCon Pinnacle Award for holding the highest GPA on the championship team, finished second with a time of 23:51.7, followed by senior Tanner Hinkle in third at 24:00.5. Senior Frank Lara turned in a fourth-place finish with a time of 24:06.9, and senior Troy Reeder completed the Paladin scorers with a time of 24:06.9 for fifth place.
The Paladin top five were joined on the SoCon All-Freshman team by sophomore Mason Coppi, who placed seventh with a time of 24:22.7. Rookie Daniel Bernal was honored as the SoCon Freshman of the Year after placing eighth with a time of 24:25.2 Bernal was also honored with an All-SoCon second team citation, along with sophomore Ryan Adams, who finished ninth with a time of 24:28.8, and sophomore Jake Ogden, who placed 11th at 24:48.5.
"I'm very proud of our five-peat for both programs," said Furman head coach Robert Gary, who was honored as the Southern Conference Coach of the Year for both the men's and women's programs. "Almost everyone ran significantly faster than the last time we were there. We had great fan and alumni support today, and it made for a very fun day."
Furman will compete at the Southeast Regional Championships on November 10 in Charlottesville, Va.
Julie Paré, Furman Sports Information
Furman Men's Individual Results
1 Aaron Templeton 23:43.9
2 Josh Brickell 23:51.7
3 Tanner Hinkle 24:00.5
4 Frank Lara 24:06.9
5 Troy Reeder 24:06.9
7 Mason Coppi 24:22.7
8 Daniel Bernal 24:25.2
9 Ryan Adams 24:28.8
11 Jake Ogden 24:48.5
Furman Women's Individual Results
1 Allie Buchalski 16:23.4
3 Savannah Carnahan 16:46.7
4 Gabrielle Jennings 16:55.1
7 Grace Dwyer 17:13.8
8 Emma Grace Hurley 17:18.3
9 Riley Burr 17:24.1
14 Kristlin Gear 17:39.1
17 Jennifer Stephenson 18:07.4
18 Emily Lane 18:11.8
Men's Team Scores
1. Furman – 15
2. ETSU – 61
3. Samford – 78
4. Chattanooga – 120
5. VMI – 160
6. UNCG - 195
7. Western Carolina – 200
8. Wofford – 211
9. The Citadel – 225
10. Mercer - 233
Women's Team Scores
1. Furman – 23
2. Samford – 43
3. ETSU – 97
4. Chattanooga – 141
5. UNCG – 168
6. Wofford – 168
7. Western Carolina – 195
8. Mercer – 212
9. VMI – 214
10. The Citadel – 253
Men's First Team All-SoCon
1. Aaron Templeton, Furman
2. Josh Brickell, Furman
3. Tanner Hinkle, Furman
4. Frank Lara, Furman
5. Troy Reeder, Furman
6. Arsène Guillorel, Samford
7. Mason Coppi, Furman
Women's First Team All-SoCon
1. Allie Buchalski, Furman
2. Karisa Nelson, Samford
3. Savannah Carnahan, Furman
4. Gabrielle Jennings, Furman
5. Anna Long, Samford
6. Hannah Steelman, Wofford
7. Grace Dwyer, Furman
Men's Second Team All-SoCon
8. Daniel Bernal, Furman
9. Ryan Adams, Furman
10. Ben Varghese, ETSU
11. Jake Ogden, Furman
12. Ben Bryant, Samford
13. Noah Charles, ETSU
14. James Garst, ETSU
Women's Second Team All-SoCon
8. Emma Grace Hurley, Furman
9. Riley Burr, Furman
10. Mary Grace Strozier, Samford
11. Haley Ward, Samford
12. Lindsey Stallworth, ETSU
13. Emily Poole, Chattanooga
14. Kristlin Gear, Furman
Men's All-Freshman Team
8. Daniel Bernal, Furman
10. Ben Varghese, ETSU
13. Noah Charles, ETSU
21. Louis Morris, ETSU
26. Soresa Gemechu, ETSU
29. Ben Garner, Samford
35. Juan Rodriguez, UNCG
38. Josiah Jaqua, Mercer
Women's All-Freshman Team
6. Hannah Steelman, Wofford
12. Lindsey Stallworth, ETSU
14. Kristlin Gear, Furman
19. Emily Lane, Furman
23. Ariana Garcia, UNCG
24. Abbey Zane, Samford
28. India Godlock, UNCG
Men's Freshman of the Year
Daniel Bernal, Furman
Women's Freshman of the Year
Hannah Steelman, Wofford
Men's Runner of the Year
Aaron Templeton, Furman
Women's Runner of the Year
Allie Buchalski, Furman
Men's Pinnacle Award Recipient
Josh Brickell, Furman
Women's Pinnacle Award Recipient
Savannah Carnahan, Furman
Men's Coach of the Year
Robert Gary, Furman
Women's Coaches of the Year
Robert Gary, Furman
