Sunday, October 30
Johns Island, SC
10 A.M.
The Citadel
vs
Southern Conference Championships 8K
The Citadel Geared Up to Host SoCon Cross Country Championships Sunday
10/28/2022 11:37:00 AM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
JOHNS ISLAND, S.C. – The Citadel will host the 2022 SoCon Cross Country Championships this Sunday, Oct. 30 from Johns Island County Park. The men's 8K championship race will run at 10:00 A.M., with the women's 5K scheduled for 10:45 A.M. The awards presentation will take place shortly after the races.
Sunday marks the first time since 2011 that the SoCon Cross Country Championships returns to the Charleston area. The Citadel women and men are ready to host and compete, with three regular-season meets at Charleston Southern, Winthrop, and USC Upstate under their belts to get ready. Another race was scheduled for Coastal Carolina on Sept. 30, but was canceled due to Hurricane Ian.
This fall marked landmark strides for the program, as assistant coach Erin Leonard was promoted to Head Cross Country Coach, while longtime head coach Jody Huddleston moved into Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Operations. Fellow assistant coach Kris Kut was named Head Track & Field Coach and assistant coach for cross country.
The timing system will be run through Snap Timing. Awards outside of the outright championships up for grabs include All-SoCon First Team for finishers one through seven, All-SoCon Second Team for finishers eight through 14, and All-Freshman to the top seven freshmen finishers, either true freshman, redshirt, or otherwise. The Runner and Freshman of the Year will be awarded to the top finisher in each category for the men and women, while Coach of the Year will be voted on by the coaches. The Pinnacle Award will be presented to the individual with the highest cumulative GPA on the men's and women's winning teams.
CHAMPIONSHIP INFORMATION
LINKS: Live Results | SoCon Championship Central | Men's Course Map | Women's Course Map
DATE: Sunday, Oct. 30
LOCATION: Johns Island County Park (Johns Island, SC)
TIMES: Men's 8K – 10 A.M. | Women's 5K – 10:45 A.M.
ADMISSION: $2 per person
THE CITADEL TEAM PREVIEW
On the men's side…
Returns four runners from last year's SoCon Championships with four newcomers… Sam Sharnas was the Bulldogs' leading finisher at the 2021 championships at VMI, finishing 31st at 27:16.4… Andrew Smith was next with a time of 28:21.4… Ty Duben ran 28:37.0, while Robert Perrecone finished in 29:13.8… team placed 10th with 267 points.
Sam Sharnas: Fourth year… was team's top finisher in every regular season meet… tied the school 6K record at Charleston Southern Sept. 2 with a winning time of 18:58.1… placed second at Winthrop 8K at 25:35.7 to lead Bulldogs to second-place team finish… finished 18th overall at USC Upstate with a mark of 25:38.7.
Owen Sharnas: First year… finished second for the Bulldogs in every regular season meet, behind cousin Sam Sharnas… began his career placing second at Charleston Southern on Sept. 2 with a time of 19:13.6 for the fifth-fastest 6K time in school history… ran 25:59.1 in his 8K collegiate debut at Winthrop for fifth place as the Bulldogs placed second… clocked in at 26:00.8 at USC Upstate for 18th place.
Andrew Smith: Fourth year… finished as The Citadel's third finisher in first two meets and fourth in third meet of regular season… took 12th at Charleston Southern 6K on Sept. 2 with a time of 20:24.3… went sixth overall at Winthrop 8K on Sept. 17 at 26:26.7… completed USC Upstate 8K in 54th place at 26:52.0.
Ty Duben: Fourth year… was the Bulldogs' third finisher in one meet and fourth finisher in two… all but sealed a team win at Charleston Southern 6K on Sept. 2 as The Citadel's fourth finisher, finishing 13th at 20:28.2… took 12th at Winthrop 8K on Sept. 17, clocking in at 26:56.3… was The Citadel's third finisher at USC Upstate 8K on Oct. 15, earning 47th place at 26:29.7.
Aidan O'Donnell: First year… made career debut at Charleston Southern 6K on Sept. 2, finishing 17th at 20:53.6… finished 25th in 8K career debut at Winthrop Sept. 17, running 28:12.6… was the Bulldogs' sixth finisher at USC Upstate 8K on Oct. 15 with a time of 28:05.1.
Will Ray: Third year… set a 6K personal best at Charleston Southern on Sept. 2, finishing 20th at 21:12.2… was the Bulldogs' fifth finisher at Winthrop 8K on Sept. 17, helping to secure a second place finish for the team with his 17th-place finish at 27:47.1… ran 27:19.2 at USC Upstate on Oct. 15 for 67th place.
Liam O'Donnell: First year… made career debut at Charleston Southern 6K on Sept. 2, earning 22nd place at 21:26.3… finished 26th in 8K career debut at Winthrop Sept. 17, clocking in at 28:24.3… ran 28:56.9 at USC Upstate 8K on Oct. 15 for 92nd place.
Sutter Guttery: First year… made career debut at Charleston Southern 6K on Sept. 2, finishing 21:45.2 for 24th place… ran 29:14.9 in 8K career debut at Winthrop on Sept. 17, finishing in 30th place… improved to a 28:38.0 time at USC Upstate 8K on Oct. 15 for 90th place.
Robert Perrecone: Third year… finished 28th at Charleston Southern 6K on Sept. 2 with a time of 22:42.3… placed 24th at Winthrop 8K on Sept. 17 at 28:11.5… took 89th place at USC Upstate 8K on Oct. 15 with a mark of 28:36.2.
On the women's side…
Returns one runner from last year's SoCon Championship with three newcomers – two graduate transfers and one freshman… Heidi Fortin led the team at VMI at last year's championships, going 29th at 20:02.0… junior Gabby Shea is set to compete after a turbulent fall season that saw her miss the first two meets, but rebounded with a career-best run at USC Upstate.
Heidi Fortin: Fourth year… was The Citadel's top finisher in all regular season meets… set the program's second-best 4K time in school history in opener at Charleston Southern Sept. 2, coming across in a personal-best 15:24… took seventh at Winthrop 5K on Sept. 17, finishing in time of 19:13.1 to serve as the first finisher outside of South Carolina Gamecocks… set the second-fastest 5K time in school history at USC Upstate Oct. 15, clocking in at 18:47.4 to finish one spot below her record time.
Emma Cunningham: First-year transfer from Ball State… was The Citadel's second finisher in first two regular season meets… placed 16th at Charleston Southern 4K on Sept. 2… placed 22nd at Winthop 5K on Sept. 17, clocking in at 21:06.7… took 72nd at USC Upstate 5K on Oct. 15, finishing at 21:03.8.
Darrian Cole: First-year transfer from Charleston Southern… was The Citadel's second finisher in one race and third finisher in two meets… took 20th at Charleston Southern 4K on Sept. 2… ran 26th at Winthrop 5K on Sept. 17, clocking in at 21:33.6… earned 61st as the Bulldogs' second finisher at USC Upstate 8K on Oct. 15 at 20:31.8.
Leska Whitmarsh: First year… finished as high as the team's fourth finisher in one meet… took 29th at Charleston Southern on Sept. 2… took 33rd as The Citadel's fourth finisher at Winthrop on Sept. 17 with a time of 23:09.1.
Gabby Shea: Third year… competed in one meet at USC Upstate 5K on Oct. 15, finishing with a career-best 20:37.5 for 64th place as The Citadel's third finisher.
Brianna Arguello: First year… joined the team midseason… Sunday will be her first race.
Sunday marks the first time since 2011 that the SoCon Cross Country Championships returns to the Charleston area. The Citadel women and men are ready to host and compete, with three regular-season meets at Charleston Southern, Winthrop, and USC Upstate under their belts to get ready. Another race was scheduled for Coastal Carolina on Sept. 30, but was canceled due to Hurricane Ian.
This fall marked landmark strides for the program, as assistant coach Erin Leonard was promoted to Head Cross Country Coach, while longtime head coach Jody Huddleston moved into Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Operations. Fellow assistant coach Kris Kut was named Head Track & Field Coach and assistant coach for cross country.
The timing system will be run through Snap Timing. Awards outside of the outright championships up for grabs include All-SoCon First Team for finishers one through seven, All-SoCon Second Team for finishers eight through 14, and All-Freshman to the top seven freshmen finishers, either true freshman, redshirt, or otherwise. The Runner and Freshman of the Year will be awarded to the top finisher in each category for the men and women, while Coach of the Year will be voted on by the coaches. The Pinnacle Award will be presented to the individual with the highest cumulative GPA on the men's and women's winning teams.
CHAMPIONSHIP INFORMATION
LINKS: Live Results | SoCon Championship Central | Men's Course Map | Women's Course Map
DATE: Sunday, Oct. 30
LOCATION: Johns Island County Park (Johns Island, SC)
TIMES: Men's 8K – 10 A.M. | Women's 5K – 10:45 A.M.
ADMISSION: $2 per person
THE CITADEL TEAM PREVIEW
On the men's side…
Returns four runners from last year's SoCon Championships with four newcomers… Sam Sharnas was the Bulldogs' leading finisher at the 2021 championships at VMI, finishing 31st at 27:16.4… Andrew Smith was next with a time of 28:21.4… Ty Duben ran 28:37.0, while Robert Perrecone finished in 29:13.8… team placed 10th with 267 points.
Sam Sharnas: Fourth year… was team's top finisher in every regular season meet… tied the school 6K record at Charleston Southern Sept. 2 with a winning time of 18:58.1… placed second at Winthrop 8K at 25:35.7 to lead Bulldogs to second-place team finish… finished 18th overall at USC Upstate with a mark of 25:38.7.
Owen Sharnas: First year… finished second for the Bulldogs in every regular season meet, behind cousin Sam Sharnas… began his career placing second at Charleston Southern on Sept. 2 with a time of 19:13.6 for the fifth-fastest 6K time in school history… ran 25:59.1 in his 8K collegiate debut at Winthrop for fifth place as the Bulldogs placed second… clocked in at 26:00.8 at USC Upstate for 18th place.
Andrew Smith: Fourth year… finished as The Citadel's third finisher in first two meets and fourth in third meet of regular season… took 12th at Charleston Southern 6K on Sept. 2 with a time of 20:24.3… went sixth overall at Winthrop 8K on Sept. 17 at 26:26.7… completed USC Upstate 8K in 54th place at 26:52.0.
Ty Duben: Fourth year… was the Bulldogs' third finisher in one meet and fourth finisher in two… all but sealed a team win at Charleston Southern 6K on Sept. 2 as The Citadel's fourth finisher, finishing 13th at 20:28.2… took 12th at Winthrop 8K on Sept. 17, clocking in at 26:56.3… was The Citadel's third finisher at USC Upstate 8K on Oct. 15, earning 47th place at 26:29.7.
Aidan O'Donnell: First year… made career debut at Charleston Southern 6K on Sept. 2, finishing 17th at 20:53.6… finished 25th in 8K career debut at Winthrop Sept. 17, running 28:12.6… was the Bulldogs' sixth finisher at USC Upstate 8K on Oct. 15 with a time of 28:05.1.
Will Ray: Third year… set a 6K personal best at Charleston Southern on Sept. 2, finishing 20th at 21:12.2… was the Bulldogs' fifth finisher at Winthrop 8K on Sept. 17, helping to secure a second place finish for the team with his 17th-place finish at 27:47.1… ran 27:19.2 at USC Upstate on Oct. 15 for 67th place.
Liam O'Donnell: First year… made career debut at Charleston Southern 6K on Sept. 2, earning 22nd place at 21:26.3… finished 26th in 8K career debut at Winthrop Sept. 17, clocking in at 28:24.3… ran 28:56.9 at USC Upstate 8K on Oct. 15 for 92nd place.
Sutter Guttery: First year… made career debut at Charleston Southern 6K on Sept. 2, finishing 21:45.2 for 24th place… ran 29:14.9 in 8K career debut at Winthrop on Sept. 17, finishing in 30th place… improved to a 28:38.0 time at USC Upstate 8K on Oct. 15 for 90th place.
Robert Perrecone: Third year… finished 28th at Charleston Southern 6K on Sept. 2 with a time of 22:42.3… placed 24th at Winthrop 8K on Sept. 17 at 28:11.5… took 89th place at USC Upstate 8K on Oct. 15 with a mark of 28:36.2.
On the women's side…
Returns one runner from last year's SoCon Championship with three newcomers – two graduate transfers and one freshman… Heidi Fortin led the team at VMI at last year's championships, going 29th at 20:02.0… junior Gabby Shea is set to compete after a turbulent fall season that saw her miss the first two meets, but rebounded with a career-best run at USC Upstate.
Heidi Fortin: Fourth year… was The Citadel's top finisher in all regular season meets… set the program's second-best 4K time in school history in opener at Charleston Southern Sept. 2, coming across in a personal-best 15:24… took seventh at Winthrop 5K on Sept. 17, finishing in time of 19:13.1 to serve as the first finisher outside of South Carolina Gamecocks… set the second-fastest 5K time in school history at USC Upstate Oct. 15, clocking in at 18:47.4 to finish one spot below her record time.
Emma Cunningham: First-year transfer from Ball State… was The Citadel's second finisher in first two regular season meets… placed 16th at Charleston Southern 4K on Sept. 2… placed 22nd at Winthop 5K on Sept. 17, clocking in at 21:06.7… took 72nd at USC Upstate 5K on Oct. 15, finishing at 21:03.8.
Darrian Cole: First-year transfer from Charleston Southern… was The Citadel's second finisher in one race and third finisher in two meets… took 20th at Charleston Southern 4K on Sept. 2… ran 26th at Winthrop 5K on Sept. 17, clocking in at 21:33.6… earned 61st as the Bulldogs' second finisher at USC Upstate 8K on Oct. 15 at 20:31.8.
Leska Whitmarsh: First year… finished as high as the team's fourth finisher in one meet… took 29th at Charleston Southern on Sept. 2… took 33rd as The Citadel's fourth finisher at Winthrop on Sept. 17 with a time of 23:09.1.
Gabby Shea: Third year… competed in one meet at USC Upstate 5K on Oct. 15, finishing with a career-best 20:37.5 for 64th place as The Citadel's third finisher.
Brianna Arguello: First year… joined the team midseason… Sunday will be her first race.
Tuesday, September 24
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