2017 FloXC Countdown

2017 FloXC Countdown: #12 Furman Men

2017 FloXC Countdown: #12 Furman Men

The Furman Paladins should be a force this fall at No. 12 on the FloXC Countdown.

Sep 3, 2017 by Taylor Dutch
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Follow our 2017 FloXC Countdown, where FloTrack ranks the top 25 cross country teams and individuals in the NCAA this season which will be LIVE on FloTrack. The No. 12 men's spot goes to Furman, and here's why:

Probable Top Five:

SR Troy Reeder (3:43 1500m; 13:59 5K; 8:36 3K SC; 8th at '17 NCAA 3K SC)
SR Tanner Hinkle (14:04 5K; 29:15 10K)
JR Aaron Templeton (14:18 5K; 51st at '15 NCAA XC)
SR Frank Lara (14:05 5K; 29:32 10K; 19th at '17 NCAA 10K; 83rd at '16 NCAA XC)
SR Josh Brickell (29:24 10K; 14:17 5K; 15th at '16 NCAA Southeast XC)

Impact Freshmen/Transfers:

Daniel Bernal via El Pas, TX (4:15 1600; 8:53 3200; 10th at '16 NXN)
Allen Clark via Evans, GA (9:14 3200; 15:35 5K XC)
Trenton Mandato via Winter Park, FL (9:11 3200; 15:15 5K XC)

Analysis:

Although the Furman Paladins missed the NCAA XC championships by just one point last year, the squad is returning with a hungry group of upperclassmen ready to crack that top 12 at NCAAs.

After a breakthrough spring track season, the Furman squad should find its top five scorers in four seniors, including steeplechase All-American Troy Reeder. Reeder ran a season best of 8:38 when he placed eighth in the steeplechase at the NCAA outdoor championships. He went on to compete at the USATF outdoor championships where he placed 14th in the semifinal. Second team All-American Frank Lara should also be in the mix after qualifying as an individual last fall. Tanner Hinkle ran a 10K personal best of 29:15 to qualify for the NCAA east preliminary, Aaron Templeton finished 51st at the 2015 NCAA Cross Country Championships, and Josh Brickell also qualified for NCAA east after running a 10K personal best of 29:24 in March.

In total, the projected top five scorers of Reeder, Lara, Hinkle, Templeton, and Brickell all boast impressive 5K personal bests under 14:18.

After redshirting five of the team's best runners last fall, the Paladins are back and in full force.

FULL MEN'S RANKINGS HERE