GREENVILLE, S.C. – Furman's Tessa Walter has been voted the Southern Conference Outdoor Track & Field Female Freshman of the Year, as announced Friday by the league office.

A native of Colorado Springs, Colo., she becomes the first person honored as the SoCon Female Freshman of the Year for cross country, indoor track and field, and outdoor track and field since 2003-04.  Walter, who is only the third athlete in league history to win all three awards, joins Heather VandeBrake, the first Paladin to complete the trifecta in 1992-93.

Walter scored 16 points for Furman at this week's 2026 SoCon Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Western Carolina's Catamount Athletic Complex in Cullowhee, N.C.  The Paladin women's team won four events and scored 110 points, the highest Furman point total on the women's side since 2018, to finish fourth.

Walter finished second in the 5,000m and 10,000m, earning SoCon All-Freshman team honors in both events.  After logging a time of 35:00.73 in Monday's 10,000m, she posted a time of 17:27.84 in the 5,000m on Tuesday.

"Tessa is the kind of athlete every coach hopes to have in their program -- competitive, incredibly consistent, and completely committed to growth," said Furman head women's cross country/track and field coach Rita Gary.  "What makes her special isn't just the performances or accolades, it's the way she shows up every single day ready to elevate both herself and her team.  To be named freshman of the year in cross country, indoor, and outdoor speaks to her versatility, toughness, and ability to deliver across an entire year of collegiate competition."

Walter becomes the fifth Furman runner to be selected SoCon Indoor Track and Field Female Freshman of the Year, joining VandeBrake (1993), Allie Buchalski (2015), Madelynne Cadeau (2022), and Lily Feingold (2024).  

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