Appalachian State Wins 2012 SoCon Cross Country Championships

Women's 5K Results
Men's 8K Results
Women's Team Results
Men's Team Results

Cross Country Championship Central

MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - The Appalachian State men's and women's cross country teams swept the 2012 Southern Cross Country Championship races at the Laurel Hill Plantation in Mt. Pleasant, S.C. on Saturday.

In the first race of the day, the women's race, Samford's Lauren D'Alessio claimed her first individual conference title, finishing the 5K course in 16:57.65, shattering her previous conference-season-best 5K time of 17:23.40. D'Alessio finished 22 seconds ahead of her teammate, second-place finisher Rachel Roberts (17:19.32). UNCG's Chelsea Sumney (17:27.47) and Western Carolina's Mara Smith (17:35.92) finished third and fourth, respectively, while Appalachian State's Amanda Hamilton (17:42.55) rounded out the top five finishers.

UNCG's Paul Chelimo, the 2011 individual champion, led the men's race from the start and finished the 8K course in 23:42.22 to claim the 2012 individual title. Chelimo finished 15 seconds ahead of his teammate, second-place finisher Paul Katam (23:57.50). Chattanooga's Nathan Wanuch (24:35.64) and Appalachian State's Alex Taylor (24:42.01) finished third and fourth, respectively, while Furman's Wilkerson Given (24:44.21) rounded out the top five finishers on the men's side.

Appalachian State's women's team finished with 64 points to claim the 2012 women's team title, followed by Elon with 68 points and Samford with 97 points. 

The Mountaineers finished with 63 points to claim the 2012 men's team title, while Chattanooga finished in second with 91 points and UNCG in third with 93 points.

Appalachian State's Mike Curcio was named the 2012 Women's Coach of the Year, as well as the 2012 Men's Coach of the Year. D'Alessio was named the Women's Runner of the Year, and the Women's Freshman of the Year honor went to Samford's Roberts.

Chelimo was named the Men's Runner of the Year, his second-consecutive honor, while Chattanooga's Trevor Janssen 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. Appalachian State                 63

2. Chattanooga                         91

3. UNCG                                   93

4. Davidson                              97

5. Furman                                 129

6. Western Carolina                   151

7. Samford                               152

8. Elon                                      169

9. The Citadel                            220

10. College of Charleston          281

11. Wofford                              303

Team Scores - Women

1. Appalachian State                 64

2. Elon                                      68

3. Samford                               97

4. Furman                                 118

5. Davidson                              132

6. Western Carolina                   154

7. Chattanooga                         197

8. UNCG                                   211

9. Wofford                                212

10. College of Charleston          244

11. The Citadel                          317

12. Georgia Southern                 344

All-SoCon First Team - Men

1. Paul Chelimo - UNCG

2. Paul Katam - UNCG

3. Nathan Wanuch - Chattanooga

4. Alex Taylor - Appalachian State

5. Wilkerson Given - Furman

6. Luis Vargas - Elon

7. Tripp Hurt - Furman

All-SoCon First Team - Women

1. Lauren D'Alessio - Samford

2. Rachel Roberts - Samford

3. Chelsea Sumney - UNCG

4. Mara Smith - Western Carolina

5. Amanda Hamilton - Appalachian State

6. Amanda Sumner - Chattanooga

7. Jocelyn Keen - Western Carolina

All-SoCon Second Team - Men

8. Demetrios Pagonis - Davidson

9. Abraham Kemboi - UNCG

10. Wes Reynolds - Davidson

11. Sean Soderman - Appalachian State

12. Lucas Cotter - Chattanooga

13. Josey Weaver - Western Carolina

14. Mike Lilley - Appalachian State

All-SoCon Second Team - Women

8. Elyse Bierut - Elon

9. Sinead Haughey - Furman

10. Tereza Novotna - Elon

11. Allyson Oram - Elon

12. Allison Cook - Appalachian State

13. Natalie Atabek - Davidson

14. Sarah Williamson - Appalachian State

All-SoCon Freshman Team - Men

18. Trevor Janssen - Chattanooga

20. Luke Weishaar - Samford

23. Daniel Samet - Davidson

24. Brandon Hazouri - Samford

28. Paul Stuart - Chattanooga

33. Mitchell McLeod - Appalachian State

35. Adam Jones - Samford

All-SoCon Freshman Team - Women

2. Rachel Roberts - Samford

8. Elyse Bierut - Elon

22. Teghan Henderson - Chattanooga

26. Kaitlin Snapp - Elon

30. Caroline McCaslin - Elon

36. Dana Cox - Appalachian State

37. Olivia Menden - Davidson

Coach of the Year - Men

Mike Curcio - Appalachian State

Coach of the Year - Women

Mike Curcio - Appalachian State

Runner of the Year - Men

Paul Chelimo - UNCG

Runner of the Year - Women

Lauren D'Alessio - Samford

Freshman of the Year - Men

Trevor Janssen - Chattanooga 

Freshman of the Year - Women

Rachel Roberts - Samford