Furman Men, Women Take SoCon Cross Country Titles

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Furman men’s and women’s cross country teams took home the team titles at the 2013 Southern Conference Cross Country Championships at Veterans Park in Birmingham, Ala. on Saturday.

In the first race of the day, UNCG’s Paul Chelimo held the lead from start to finish, winning his third consecutive individual title, blazing the course with a time of 24:19.72. Chelimo’s teammate Paul Katam (24:34.52) took second place for the second consecutive season, while Elon’s Luis Vargas finished in third with a time of 25:01.56. Furman’s Tripp Hurt came in fourth with a time of 25:01.56 and Chattanooga’s Lucas Cotter rounded out the top five, posting a time of 25:04.72.

Furman was crowned the men’s team champion with 48 points. The Paladins placed five runners in the top 20 to capture the title. Appalachian State was second with 63 points and Chattanooga took third with 73 points.

Furman’s women’s team also captured a team title, finishing with 48 points. Elon took second place, finishing just two points behind the Paladins with 50 points. UNCG took third place with 62 points.

Chattanooga’s Teghan Henderson pulled ahead of the pack in the last mile, completing the 5K course with a time of 17:05.84. Furman’s duo of Allie Buchalski (17:23.43) and Grace Tinkey (17:33.76) were second and third, followed by UNCG’s Shaina Sumney who took fourth with a time of 17:49.64 and Elon’s Allyson Oram (17:56.74) finished fifth.

Furman’s Robert Gary was named the 2013 Women’s Coach of the Year, as well as the 2013 Men’s Coach of the Year. Henderson was named the Women’s Runner of the Year and the Women’s Freshman of the Year honor went to Furman’s Buchalski.

Chelimo was named the Men’s Runner of the Year, his third-consecutive honor, while Furman’s Troy Reeder was named the Men’s Freshman of the Year.

Full results from the championship can be viewed by clicking the above links.

Team Scores – Men
1. Furman - 48
2. Appalachian State - 63
3. Chattanooga - 73
4. UNCG - 74
5. Davidson - 124
6. Samford - 148
7. Elon - 167
8. Western Carolina - 221
9. The Citadel - 269
10. Wofford - 282

Team Scores – Women
1. Furman - 48
2. Elon - 50
3. UNCG - 62
4. Appalachian State - 99
5. Chattanooga - 136
6. Davidson - 177
7. Samford - 195
8. Wofford - 238
9. Western Carolina - 240
10. The Citadel - 276
11. Georgia Southern - 305

All-SoCon First Team – Men
1. Paul Chelimo – UNCG
2. Paul Katam – UNCG
3. Luis Vargas – Elon
4. Tripp Hurt – Furman
5. Lucas Cotter – Chattanooga
6. Kyle McFoy – Appalachian State
7. Troy Reeder – Furman

All-SoCon First Team – Women
1. Teghan Henderson – Chattanooga
2. Allie Buchalski – Furman
3. Grace Tinkey – Furman
4. Shaina Sumney – UNCG
5. Allyson Oram – Elon
6. Lydia Sana – UNCG
7. Chlesea Sumney – UNCG

All-SoCon Second Team – Men
8. Dylan Belles – UNCG
9. Tanner Hinkle – Furman
10. Josh Cox – Appalachian State
11. Mark Cole – Chattanooga
12. Brock Baker – Furman
13. James Howard-Smith – Appalachian State
14. Will Raby – Appalachian State

All-SoCon Second Team – Women
8. Sinead Haughey – Furman
9. Elyse Bierut – Elon
10. Justine Stocks – Appalachian State
11. Tereza Novotna – Elon
12. Haylee Dawe – Elon
13. Kimberly Johansen – Elon
14. Erin Osment – Davidson

All-SoCon Freshman Team – Men
7. Troy Reeder, Furman
9. Tanner Hinkle – Furman
12. Brock Baker – Furman
20. Michael Ellis – Appalachian State
23. Nate Riech – Furman
34. Connor Sorrels – Furman
39. Clay Howarth – Western Carolina

All-SoCon Freshman Team – Women
2. Allie Buchalski – Furman
3. Grace Tinkey – Furman
13. Kimberly Johansen – Elon
16. Julia Rodriguez – Furman
19. Laura Miller – Furman
24. Eira Jensen – UNCG
29. Jenny Fritz – Davidson

Coach of the Year – Men
Robert Gary – Furman

Coach of the Year – Women
Robert Gary – Furman

Runner of the Year – Men
Paul Chelimo – UNCG

Runner of the Year – Women
Teghan Henderson – Chattanooga

Freshman of the Year – Men
Troy Reeder – Furman

Freshman of the Year – Women
Allie Buchalski – Furman