Cross Country Has Banner Day At SoCon Meet

Saturday, October 29

All Day

Samford University

Southern Conference Championships

10.29.16 | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country, Cross Country

MEN'S RESULTS

WOMEN'S RESULTS

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Samford University cross-country coach Pat McGregor said his Bulldogs would enter the 2016 Southern Conference Cross Country Championships prepared to succeed.

He wasn't kidding.

On Saturday morning at Camp Jordan Park, the Samford men and women rattled off a pair of runner-up team finishes – the best collective performance in program history.
The Bulldog men had previously never finished higher than fourth at the conference meet, while the women had not placed higher than third since winning back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010.

"Any time you can go out to a championship and get a trophy it's a good day," McGregor said. "I'm pleased."

Karisa Nelson became Samford's first female SoCon individual cross-country champion since former star Lauren D'Alessio took home the title in 2012.

Nelson, a junior, posted a 16-second 5K personal best in 16 minutes, 22.62 seconds. She finished two ticks ahead of Furman's Savannah Carnahan, who placed second in 16:24.72.

"She ran smart. She just stayed behind the Furman girl and outkicked her," McGregor said. "It was that simple."

Junior Emma Garner joined her teammate at the top of the pack, placing fourth in 16:55.42. Both Nelson and Garner earned All-SoCon First Team recognition for their stellar performances, and Nelson was named Runner of the Year.

Junior Anna Long and freshman Mary Grace Strozier placed third and fourth for the Bulldog women. Long (12th, 17:43.67) and Strozier (14th, 17:49.11) posted sub-18-minute 5K times for the first time in their respective careers and earned spots on the All-SoCon Second Team.

Freshman Shian Mallory capped the Bulldogs' scoring with an 18th-place finish in a personal-best 18:01.25. Fellow freshman Presley Weems also turned in a strong performance, as she placed 25th in a personal-best 18:24.11.

Collectively, the Bulldog women tallied 47 points and accumulated a 17:22.42 team 5K average. Furman totaled 24 points to capture its fourth-straight SoCon title.

"It was a great effort by all six girls," McGregor said. "That was great."

The Bulldog men, meanwhile, placed three runners in the top eight and five in the top 20 to secure the highest conference finish in program history.

Junior Arsène Guillorel, redshirt senior Brandon Hazouri and sophomore Ben Bryant notched third-, fifth- and eighth-place performances with a trio of personal-best 8K times.
Guillorel dipped under the vaunted 24-minute barrier for the first time of his decorated career, clocking a time of 23:36.69 (4:44 per mile).

Hazouri crossed the finish line in a 41-second personal-best 24:12.72, and Bryant crossed in a 19-second personal-best 24:18.98.

"That's just the standard they've raised themselves, and we're definitely going to keep it at Samford," McGregor said.

Guillorel and Hazouri claimed All-SoCon First Team honors, while Bryant earned All-SoCon Second Team honors.

Freshman Dillon Dean (16th, 24:49.5) and junior Josh Salter (19th, 24:56.29) capped the Bulldogs' scoring five. Their swift marks represented a significant reduction from their prior personal bests, as neither had previously broken 25 minutes for 8K.
Dean was named to the All-SoCon Freshman Team for his performance.

Collectively, the Samford men totaled 51 points. Furman scored 22 points to capture its fourth-straight SoCon title. The Paladins' Frank Lara snagged top individual honors in a time of 23:16.44.

The Bulldog cross-country teams will return to action on Saturday, Nov. 12, at the NCAA South Regionals in Tallahassee, Fla.

Team Scores – women
1. Furman – 24
2. Samford – 47
3. ETSU – 111
4. Chattanooga – 113
5. UNCG – 171
6. Wofford – 171
7. Western Carolina – 176
8. VMI – 195
9. Mercer – 201
10. The Citadel – 266

All-SoCon First Team
1. Karisa Nelson, Samford (PR - 16:22.62)
2. Savannah Carnahan, Furman
3. Emma Grace Hurley, Furman
4. Emma Garner, Samford (16:55.42)
5. Gabrielle Jennings, Furman
6. Laura Miller, Furman
7. Katy Link, UNCG

All-SoCon Second Team
8. Riley Burr, Furman
9. Grace Dwyer, Furman
10. Jennifer Stephenson, Furman
11. Taylor Delaney, UNCG
12. Anna Long, Samford (PR – 17:43.67)
13. Julia Rodriguez, Furman
14. Mary Grace Strozier, Samford (PR – 17:49.11)

All-SoCon 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

Runner of the Year – Women
Karisa Nelson, Samford

Freshman of the Year – Women
Savannah Carnahan, Furman

Coach of the Year- Women
Robert Gary

Team Scores – Men
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

All-SoCon First Team – Men
1. Frank Lara, Furman
2. Josh Brickell, Furman
3. Arsène Guillorel, Samford (PR – 23:36.69)
4. Ryan Adams, Furman
5. Brandon Hazouri, Samford (PR – 24:12.72)
6. Mason Coppi, Furman
7. Simeon Roberts, ETSU

All-SoCon Second Team –Men
8. Ben Bryant, Samford (PR - 24:18.98)
9. Matt Lange, Furman
10. Jake Ogden, Furman
11. Brennan Huber, Chattanooga
12. James Broom, VMI
13. Paul Stuart, Chattanooga
14. Quintin McKinnish, Furman

All-SoCon Freshman Team – Men
4. Ryan Adams, Furman
6. Mason Coppi, Furman
10. Jake Ogden, Furman
16. Dillon Dean, Samford (PR – 24:49.5)
17. Adam Bradtmueller, ETSU
22. Ryan Drew, VMI
24. Patrick McNamara, Furman

Runner of the Year – Men
Frank Lara, Furman

Freshman of the Year – Men
Ryan Adams, Furman

Coach of the Year – Men
Robert Gary, Furman