GREENVILLE, S.C. -- The Furman men's and women's cross country teams, winners of nine-straight league titles, will defend their championships Sunday at the 2022 Southern Conference Championship Meet, which will be hosted by The Citadel at Johns Island County Park in Johns Island, S.C.

The meet will mark the 93th Annual Southern Conference Cross Country Championship for the men and the 38th for the women.  Admission to Johns Island County Park is $2 per person.

The championships will begin with the men's 8K run at 10 a.m., followed by the women's 5K event at 10:45 a.m.  The top men's and women's teams will be honored as the 2022 conference champions, while the top seven individuals in each race will be named first team all-conference.  Individual finishers placing eighth through 14th in each race will comprise the all-conference second team, and the top seven freshmen in each race will make up the league's all-freshman team.

"We are very excited about the SoCon Championships Sunday," said Furman head coach Robert Gary.  "For ten years straight we have stated our cross country season goals at our August report meeting and top on the list has been winning the conference and advancing to the NCAA Championships.  We feel both teams are strong enough to achieve those goals again this year."

Furman's men are seeking to become just the second SoCon team to win ten-straight men's titles, a feat William & Mary accomplished from 1966-75.  The Paladin women already own the longest streak of women's titles in league history.

The Paladin women's team, which is currently ranked 27th nationally, placed all nine runners among the top nine at last season's meet and scored a record-low 18 points for the win.  Junior Bethany Graham, who won the individual title in 2021 and was honored as the league's runner of the year on the women's side, returns to compete for Furman, along with senior Abigail Robertson and juniors Madelynne Cadeau, Emily Little, and Megan Marvin.  Sophomore Sierra Bower, plus freshmen Emma Jones, Jenna Mulhern, and Carly Wilkes will join the Paladin lineup for the meet, and Camryn Wennersten will travel as an alternate.

The Paladin men's team scored a perfect 15 points for the victory in 2021 and claimed the top seven  spots in the race.  Junior Dylan Schubert, who placed second at last year's meet, returns on the men's side, along with junior Carson Williams and sophomore Nick Goldstein. Seniors David Ahlmeyer, Adam Beucler, Josh Powers, and Mac Roberts will also compete, plus sophomore Foster Wilfong and freshman Colton Kempney. 

Furman's Gary won his ninth-straight SoCon Coach of the Year award for both the men's and women's programs in 2021.

For complete results and photos from the 2022 championship, log onto http://www.soconsports.com.