Cross Country Records Highest Conference Finishes in Program History

Friday, October 27

Kernersville, N.C.

10 a.m.

Mercer University

SoCon Championships

men's cross country conference race start

Cross Country Records Highest Conference Finishes in Program History

10/27/2023 2:54:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country, Athletics Department

Final Results

KERNERSVILLE - Mercer men's and women's cross country teams placed third and fourth, respectively, at the Southern Conference Cross Country Championships in Kernersville, N.C. The men's three-peat at third is the first in program history, and the women's fourth place finish is the highest in program history.

Kamila Soja improved upon her PR and school record, placing fifth, the highest conference finish in Mercer men's or women's cross country history, in the 5k running 16:57.3. Head Coach Josh Hayman says Soja's race was "spectactular" and that she "rose to the occasion right away to put herself in the front." Patrycja Miazek was next for the Bears, placing 22nd in 18:12.9. Nikki Harris was third for the Bears running a PR of 18:26.9. Annette Rodriguez-Olvera also ran her best time at the distance in 18:40.7 for 28th place. Bri Teegarden rounded out the scoring runners in 31st place in 18:45.0.

Hayman is "so proud of how far the women have come this year" and how they "battled for every place and came away with our best finish yet and more program records."

The men's team was led by Yianni Pothalakis, placing 19th in 25:43.9 for 8k. Just a few steps behind was Buck Ledford in 20th place in 25:46.2. Jonathan Greene placed 22nd, running 25:53.6, followed by Reece Cato in 23rd place running 25:56.8. Chinmay Dongari was the fifth Bear runner, placing 33rd in 26:23.2.

On the men's performance, Hayman says, "This race was the best the men have ever run as a unit. We asserted ourselves immediately and hung tight to clinch the back-to-back-to-back third finish. We knew our strength was that we had good depth, and they executed the race near perfectly. I can't thank these guys enough for their hard work."

The Bears will compete at the NCAA DI South Region Championships on Nov. 10 in Spartanburg, S.C.

Southern Conference Championships (OCTOBER 27)
WOMEN'S 5K		MEN'S 8K
*Winner: Abigail Robertson (Furman, 16:41.7)*		Winner: Dylan Schubert (Furman, 23:33.7)
5	! Kamila Soja, 16:57.3	19	Yianni Pothalakis, 25:43.9
22	Patrycja Miazek, 18:12.9	20	Buck Ledford, 25:46.2
26	! Nikki Harris, 18:26.9	22	Jonathan Greene, 25:53.6
28	! Annette Rodriguez-Olvera, 18:40.7	23	Reece Cato, 25:56.8
31	Bri Teegarden, 18:45.0	33	Chinmay Dongari, 26:23.2
37	! Olivia Jones, 19:01.1	40	Henning Kunze, 26:35.8
56	Iris Porter, 20:00.0	47	Nick Frye, 27:00.0
60	Reese Robertson, 20:15.0	50	Sebasthian Rodriguez, 27:07.7
66	Sarah Myers, 20:42.9	56	Zachary Burke, 27:32.4

! = Personal Best