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Complete Results

MOCS FIFTH; THREE ALL-CONFERENCE AT 2011 SOCON CHAMPIONSHIPS

CHARLESTON, S.C. --- The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's cross country team placed fifth Saturday morning at the Southern Conference championships while the women finished 11^th overall. Senior Chris Berry (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) placed fifth and was one of three Chattanooga runners on the all-conference squad.

"I'm really proud of our guys today," UTC Head Coach Bill Guatier said. "We got three guys on the all-conference team and didn't win. That hasn't happened in a long time, but they ran a great race."

Berry, running in his final cross country meet, placed fifth overall with a time of 24:04.80 for his fourth all-conference performance. Berry was fourth his freshman season and was named the league's Freshman of the Year and followed that up with his best finish at 3^rd in his sophomore year and was fourth last season.

"What can you say about Chris," Gautier said. "What a career he's had. He hurt his leg before school started and was out a week, then he was hit by a car while training this year and sat out another week. He's tough and has done a great job for us."

Berry was followed immediately by sophomore Lucas Cotter (Collierville, Tenn.) with a time of 24:20.56. Cotter was named the league's Freshman of the Year last season with a 14^th place finish and followed that up this year placing sixth.

"I'm very proud of Lucas," Gautier said. "He redshirted his first year and did a lot of growing up last year."

Sophomore Mark Cole (McKenzie, Tenn.) placed 14^th overall with a time of 24:57.93 and earned all-conference second team honors.

"Mark didn't even run last year and this year he's all-conference"

Sophomore Nathan Wanuch (Mississauga, Ontario) placed 27^th for Chattanooga with a time of 25:25.13 and track runner Drew Austell (Eads, Tenn.) was 51^st with a time of 26:18.36. The Mocs were without junior Joshue Vasquez (Johnson City, Tenn.) who suffered a season-ending injury earlier this season.

"If we'd had Josh this year, we would have finished much higher, possibly even second," Gautier said. "But I'm very proud of who we have on the course right now. We'll regroup and get ready for the region."

The women finished well below their average, placing 11^th overall led by senior Tara Gietema (Knoxville, Tenn.) who was 23^rd with a time of 18:01.00 followed by freshman Keeley Stewart (Winchester, Tenn.) with a time of 19:07.10.

Sophomore Morgan Buchanan ( was the Lady Mocs' third runner across the line in a time of 19:23.80. Senior Sarah White-Woerner (Chattanooga, Tenn.) ran the 5-kilometer race in a time of 19:40.40 and freshman Gabby Cader (Cleveland, Tenn.), a sprinter on the track team, was the last scoring runner across the line for UTC in a time of 20:17.10.

UNCG swept the men's and women's titles. The men posted a team score of 26 points led by SoCon Runner of the Year Paul Chelimo who led the race from start to finish. The Spartans placed four runners on the all-conference first team and one on second team.

Davidson placed second with 73 points and had one runner on the men's first team. Furman was third in the final standings followed by defending champion Appalachian State who failed to win the title for the first time in six years.

Elon's Luis Vargas was named the league's Freshman of the Year after finishing 10^th overall and earning all-conference second team honors. The Phoenix tied Western Carolina for sixth.

UNCG also claimed the women's title with 35 points and placed four on the all-conference first team. Spartan Ashley Schnell defended her title and set a Trophy Lakes course record by more than 20 seconds.

Samford's Lauren D'Alessio was the second finisher and her team's sole representative on the all-conference slate. The Bulldogs were the preseason favorite to win after claiming the title in each of the last two years, but ended up seventh overall.

Furman finished second with 80 points in the team standings led by Erin Baker in fourth.  She was the Paladins' lone first teamer with two more earning spots on the second team. Elon was third with 111 points followed by Appalachian State in fourth with 117 while College of Charleston rounded out the top five with 141 points edging Western Carolina by two points.

Davidson's Sarah Paddon was named the SoCon women's Freshman of the Year with a 12^th place finish and earned a spot on the SoCon All-Conference Second Team.

UNCG's Linh Nguyen was named Coach of the Year for both the men and women.

Next up for Chattanooga will be the NCAA South Region meet on November 12 hosted by the University of Alabama at Harry Pritchett Running Park in Tuscaloosa, Ala.