Furman Sweeps Team Titles For Fourth Straight Year

Chattanooga, Tenn. – The Furman Paladins earned their fourth consecutive men’s and women’s team titles on Saturday at the Southern Conference Cross Country Championships at Camp Jordan Park in Chattanooga, Tenn. Furman’s Frank Lara won the men’s 8K race, while Samford’s Karisa Nelson took first in the women’s 5K race. Both were recognized as runners of the year for their first-place performances.

The men kicked off action at 10 a.m. Lara nabbed first overeall with a time of 23:16.44 in the men’s race. He was followed by teammate Josh Brickell (23:25.34), who placed second overall. Samford’s Arsène Guillorel, who won last year’s individual title, was the third competitor to cross the finish line. Guillorel completed the 8K course in 23:36.69. Ryan Adams (Furman), Brandon Hazouri (Samford), Mason Coppi (Furman), Simeon Roberts (ETSU), Ben Bryant (Samford), Matt Lange (Furman) and Jake Ogden (Furman) rounded out the top 10.

Furman claimed first-place in the men’s team competition with 22 points. Samford placed second with 51 points and ETSU took third with 93 points.

Furman’s Ryan Adams earned freshman of the year with his fourth-place finish, completing the race in 24:08.49.

In the women’s race, Nelson, a junior, crossed the line with a time of 16:22.62 to claim the 2016 SoCon runner of the year award. She was trailed by Furman’s Savannah Carnahan (16:24.72) and Emma Grace Hurley (16:55.36), who finished second and third, respectively. Emma Garner (Samford), Gabrielle Jennings (Furman), Laura Miller (Furman) and Katy Link (UNCG) rounded out the No. 4-7 spots, comprising the first team All-SoCon honorees.

Carnahan’s second-place finish bested the rest of the freshmen, earning her freshman of the year honors.

In the women’s team competition, Furman earned 24 points to take first. Samford checked in second with 47 points, while ETSU finished third with 111 points.

Furman’s Josh Brickell and Julia Rodriguez claimed the first-ever Pinnacle Award. The award is given to the student-athlete, who has completed a minimum of two semesters, on the championship team with the highest GPA.

Furman’s Robert Gary garnered men’s coach of the year honors for the third consecutive year. Gary, who earned co-coach of the year honors on the women’s side last year, claimed the 2016 women’s coach of the year.

 

Men’s Team Scores

1. Furman – 22

2. Samford – 51

3. ETSU – 93

4. Chattanooga – 113

5. VMI – 117

6. Wofford  - 218

7. Western Carolina – 219

8. UNCG – 220

9. The Citadel – 221

10. Mercer - 271

 

Women’s Team Scores

1. Furman – 24

2. Samford – 47

3. ETSU – 111

4. Chattanooga – 113

T-5. UNCG – 171

T-5. Wofford – 171

7. Western Carolina – 176

8. VMI – 195

9. Mercer – 201

10. The Citadel – 266

 

Men’s First Team All-SoCon

1.Frank Lara, Furman

2. Josh Brickell, Furman

3. Arsène Guillorel, Samford

4. Ryan Adams, Furman

5. Brandon Hazouri, Samford

6. Mason Coppi, Furman

7. Simeon Roberts, ETSU

 

Women’s First Team All-SoCon

1. Karisa Nelon, Samford

2. Savannah Carnahan, Furman

3. Emma Grace Hurley, Furman

4. Emma Garner, Samford

5. Gabrielle Jennings, Furman

6. Laura Miller, Furman

7. Katy Link, UNCG

 

Men’s Second Team All-SoCon

8. Ben Bryant, Samford

9. Matt Lange, Furman

10. Jake Ogden, Furman

11. Brennan Huber

12. James Broom, VMI

13. Paul Stuart, Chattanooga

14. Quintin McKinnish, Furman

 

Women’s Second Team All-SoCon

8. Riley Burr, Furman

9. Grace Dwyer, Furman

10. Jennifer Stephenson, Furman

11. Taylor Delaney, UNCG

12. Anna Long, Samford

13. Julia Rodriguez, Furman

14. Mary Grace Strozier, Samford

 

Men’s All-Freshman Team

4. Ryan Adams, Furman

6. Mason Coppi, Furman

10. Jake Ogden, Furman

16. Dillon Dean, Samford

17. Adam Bradtmueller, ETSU

22. Ryan Drew, VMI

24. Patrick McNamara, Furman

 

Women’s All-Freshman Team

2. Savannah Carnahan, Furman

3. Emma Grace Hurley, Furman

5. Gabrielle Jennings, Furman

8. Riley Burr, Furman

9. Grace Dwyer, Furman

10. Jennifer Stephenson, Furman

11. Taylor Delaney, UNCG

 

Men’s Freshman of the Year

Ryan Adams, Furman

 

Women’s Freshman of the Year

Savannah Carnahan, Furman

 

Men’s Runner of the Year

Frank Lara, Furman

 

Women’s Runner of the Year

Karisa Nelson, Samford

 

Men’s Pinnacle Award Recipient

Josh Brickell, Furman

 

Women’s Pinnacle Award Recipient

Julia Rodriguez, Furman

 

Men’s Coach of the Year

Robert Gary, Furman

 

Women’s Coaches of the Year

Robert Gary, Furman

-www.SoConSports.com-