MT. PLEASANT, S.C.  – Appalachian State’s 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. Saturday.

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 and Men’s Coach of the Year.

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.

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.

 

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. Demetrio 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