Metrolina Christian Alum Wins All-Academic Honors in Cross Country
Breeden and Long pace Bucs at Big South Championship
BOILING SPRINGS, N .C. – Charleston Southern sophomores Caleb Breeden and Zach Long helped the Bucs to a ninth place finish in blustery conditions at Saturday’s Big South Conference Cross Country Championship, hosted by Gardner-Webb University. CSU tallied 289 points to finish ninth, while High Point took home the Big South Championship with 27 points.
High Point ran away with the title, finishing ahead of Liberty (52 points) and third-place Campbell (75 points). CSU continued its season-long improvement by finishing ahead of Gardner-Webb and Presbyterian. High Point junior Jeff LaCoste captured the individual crown, crossing the finish line in 24:59.30.
Breeden, who was also named to the Big South All-Academic Team, persevered through difficult conditions to take home 55th place. Breeden built off a strong effort in the College of Charleston Invitation to beat the 29:30 mark with a final time of 29:24.10. Classmate Zach Long, who paced CSU for much of the year, placed 58th with a finish of 29:46.80.
CSU freshman Caleb Edgehill also exhibited future promise for assistant coach for distance and jumps Sirena William’ squad. Edgehill narrowly came in under the 30-minute mark, placing 61st.
All of the Big South Conference award winners are listed below.
2014 Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Year
Jeff LaCoste, High Point
2014 Men’s Cross Country Freshman of the Year
Jacob Kipserem, Campbell
2014 Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year
Mike Esposito, High Point
2014 Men’s Cross Country All-Conference Team
Jeff LaCoste, High Point
Jacob Kipserem, Campbell
Chris Colo, High Point
Titus Koech, Liberty
James Quattlebaum, High Point
Sam Hibbs, Liberty
Evan Darm, Campbell
Reece Ayers, High Point
Joseph Keitt, Coastal Carolina
Ryan Udvadia, High Point
Josh Showalter, Liberty
Paddy Grandinali, High Point
2014 Men’s Cross Country All-Academic Team
Anthony Hughes, Campbell
Caleb Breeden, Charleston Southern
Evan Niciphor, Coastal Carolina
Reece Ayers, High Point
Will Templeton, Liberty
Russell Reed, Longwood
Reid McCandless, Presbyterian College
Caleb Smith, UNC Asheville
Blake White, Winthrop
2014 Men’s Cross Country Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Reece Ayers, High Point