LEXINGTON, Va. – Western Carolina senior Kate Mattison earned Second Team All-Southern Conference honors while Justin Hayes earned All-Freshman laurels as the Catamounts competed at the 2021 Southern Conference Cross Country Championships on Saturday morning at the Lexington Golf and Country Club.

In the team standings, the WCU men's team finished in sixth place while the women's team earned a seventh-place result. Furman won the league title on both the men's and women's races for the ninth straight year.

Mattison picked up Second Team accolades for the second straight year as she led the women's team with a 12^th-place finish. Mattison completed the 5K race with a time of 18:58.30. Sophomore Sydney Runyan placed 35^th with a time of 20:31.50, followed by freshman Alesea Caldwell in 41^st at 20:54.40. Freshman Sara Klemm was 45^th thanks to her time of 21:00.10 with classmate Isabelle Broman-Fulks placing 55^th with a time of 21:23.30. Freshman Madelynn Duffield was 62^nd with a final time of 21:49.50 and Madeleine Wagner was the final WCU finisher in 66^th with a time of 22:03.40.

Hayes led the men's team in the 8K race with a time of 26:48.30 to finish in 23^rd place. Sophomore Drew Zink placed 25^th with a time of 26:55.00 followed by junior Jalen Elwell in 38^th with a time of 27:31.90. Junior Clay Summers finished 41^st with a time of 27:35.00 with freshman Will Mitchell earning a 43^rd place result thanks to his time of 27:38.90. Freshman Nicholas Kiser placed 54^th with a finishing time of 28:19.10 ahead of classmate John Davis in 71^st at 29:11.30. 
WCU is back in action on Nov. 12, heading to the NCAA Southeast Regional Championships

Keep track of everything related to Catamount cross country and WCU Athletics through its social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/catamountsports) and Twitter (@catamounts, @catamountxctf).

Women's Results: 5K
12. Kate Mattison – 18:58.30
35. Sydney Runyan – 20:31.50
41. Alesea Caldwell – 20:54.40
45. Sara Klemm – 21:00.10
55. Isabelle Broman-Fulks – 21:23.30
62. Madelynn Duffield – 21:49.50
66. Madeleine Wagner – 22:03.40


Men's Results: 8K
23. Justin Hayes – 26:48.30
25. Drew Zink – 26:55.00
38. Jalen Elwell – 27:31.90
41. Clay Summers – 27:35.00
43. Will Mitchell – 27:38.90
54. Nicholas Kiser – 28:19.10
71. John Davis – 29:11.30