UNC Pembroke Tops Men’s Cross Country Preseason Coaches’ Poll in Return to Conference Carolinas
GREENVILLE, S.C. – UNC Pembroke, led by NCAA All-American Joshua Chepkesir, has been picked to win the Conference Carolinas Men’s Cross Country crown as they claimed the top spot in the Men’s Cross Country Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
The conference office officially unveiled the preseason poll on Aug. 26, 2021. The preseason poll was voted on by the league’s head coaches.
The Braves edged 2020-21 Conference Carolinas champion Emmanuel for the top spot with 137 points and seven first-place votes. Emmanuel claimed the second spot with 134 points and five first-place nods. Eight-time conference champion Mount Olive was picked third with 121 points while King grabbed the last first-place vote and 111 points to place fourth.
Lees-McRae rounded out the top five with 98 points and are followed by North Greenville (87), Belmont Abbey (77), Erskine (65), Southern Wesleyan (48), Barton (44), Francis Marion and Converse (37) and Chowan (18).
Teams begin competition on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 and will have two months before the 2021 Conference Carolinas Championship on Saturday, Oct. 23 hosted by Mount Olive in Mount Olive, North Carolina.
2021 Conference Carolinas
Men’s Cross Country Preseason Poll
| School |
Total (First Place) |
| UNC Pembroke |
137 (7) |
| Emmanuel |
134 (5) |
| Mount Olive |
121 |
| King |
111(1) |
| Lees-McRae |
98 |
| North Greenville |
87 |
| Belmont Abbey |
77 |
| Erskine |
65 |
| Southern Wesleyan |
48 |
| Barton |
44 |
| Francis Marion |
37 |
| Converse |
37 |
| Chowan |
18 |
2021 Conference Carolinas Men’s Cross Country
Players to Watch
Barton
- Damien Gonzalez, So., Mooresville, North Carolina
- Amando Robles, So., Wilson, North Carolina (2020-21 All-Conference Carolinas Third Team)
Belmont Abbey
- Nick Berrios, So., Daphne, Alabama
- Sam Lynch, Sr., Alpharetta., Georgia (2020-21 All-Conference Carolinas First Team)
- Thomas Thierfelder, Jr., Gastonia, North Carolina (2020-21 All-Conference Carolinas Second Team)
Converse
- Luis Rios Brena, Fr., Gray Court, South Carolina
- DreQuan Guyton, Fr., Spartanburg, South Carolina
- Nathan Lucy, Fr., Markleysburg, Pennsylvania
Emmanuel
- Luke Gaddis, Fr., Gainesville, Georgia
- Demarco Hernandez, So., Commerce, Georgia (2020-21 All-Conference Carolinas Second Team)
- Alex Sosa, Sr., Gainesville, Georgia (2020-21 All-Conference Carolinas Third Team)
Erskine
- Jensen Button, Jr., North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
- Jacob Koontz, Fr., North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
- Noah Woodbury, So., Summerville, South Carolina (2020-21 All-Conference Carolinas First Team)
Francis Marion
- Christian England, Sr., Charleston, South Carolina
- Pearson Mixon, So., Florence, South Carolina
- Logan Zeis, So., Winchester, Virginia
King
- Josh Booher, Jr., Bristol, Virginia, (20221 All-Conference Carolinas Third Team)
- Blaine Metcalf, Sr., Morristown, Tennessee
- Mason Sanders, Fr., Blountville, Tennessee
Lees-McRae
- Silas Arendash, Jr., Irmo, South Carolina (2020-21 All-Conference Carolinas Second Team)
- Max Geckler, Fr., Wake Forest, North Carolina
- Elias Zajicek, Jr., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (2020-21 All-Conference Carolinas Second Team)
North Greenville
- Hayden Goode, Fr., Lyman, South Carolina
- Jacob Holcombe, Jr., Walhalla, South Carolina (2020-21 All-Conference Carolinas First Team)
- Victor Shellhammer, Jr., Summerville, South Carolina
Southern Wesleyan
- Konner Palacios, Sr., Powdersville, South Carolina
- Peyton Shelton, Gr., Columbus, Indiana (2018 All-Conference Third Team)
UNC Pembroke
- Joshua Chepkesir, R-Jr., Eldoret, Kenya (Three-time All-Peach Belt Conference, PBC Freshman of the Year, Two-time PBC Runner of the Year, NCAA All-American, Two-time NCAA Southeast Region Champion, Two-time USTFCCCA All-Region, Two-time USTFCCCA Region Athlete of the Year)