JOHNS ISLAND, S.C. – Kate Mattison earned her third straight Second Team All-Southern Conference honor with a ninth-place finish while Matthew Martin earned All-Freshman laurels to highlight Western Carolina performances at the Southern Conference Cross Country Championship on Sunday.
 
The WCU women's team finished in fifth place while the men's team finished in eighth place.
 
Mattison crossed the finish line with a 5K time of 17:33.60. She is the first three-time all-Southern Conference runner in women's program history and is one of 35 student-athletes in league history to accomplish the feat.
 
Caroline Hilliard finished in 17^th place with a new personal best time of 18:05.10. Alesea Caldwell ran a personal best 19:04.80 to finish in 38^th.  Riley McKinney finished 47^th with a time of 19:27.0.  Landey Green crossed the finish line in 53^rd with a time of 19:42.00 followed by Sydney Runyan in 62^nd at 19:54.00. Sara Klemm placed 70^th with a time of 20:28.50 followed by Lauren Esselborn in 74^th with a time of 21:24.10.
 
The WCU men's team saw multiple student-athletes record new 8K personal best times. Martin was the top finisher in 33^rd place with a personal best time of 25:51.10 as he earned a spot on the All-Freshman Team. Jonny Sherwood and Grant Parham finished in 43^rd and 44^th places with both recording new personal best times. Sherwood crossed the finish line in 26:14.60 with Parham finishing the race in 26:16.50. Nicholas Kiser placed 48^th with a new personal best 26:21.80. Andrew Edney also finished with a new personal best time of 26:39.10 for a 55^th-place finish. Mickey Schihl crossed the finish line with a new personal best time of 27:08.00 to finish 68^th. Other finishers included Will Mitchell at 27:18.10 and Jalen Elwell in 29:40.20.
 
The Catamounts are back in action at the NCAA Southeast Regional Championship in Louisville, Ky. on Nov. 11.
 
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
9. Kate Mattison - 17:33.60
17. Caroline Hilliard - 18:05.10
38. Alesea Caldwell – 19:04.80
48. Riley McKinney – 19:27.00
53. Landey Green – 19:42.00
62. Sydney Runyan – 19:54.00
70. Sara Klemm – 20:28.50
74. Lauren Esselborn – 21:24.10
 
Men's Results: 8K
33. Matthew Martin – 25:51.10
44. Jonny Sherwood – 26:14.60
45. Grant Parham – 26:16.50
48. Nicholas Kiser – 26:21.80
55. Andrew Edney – 26:39.10
68. Mickey Schihl – 27:08.00
71. Will Mitchell – 27:18.10
83. Jalen Elwell – 29:40.20