The freshman from Gainesville, Georgia began the month with a fifth-place finish a the Alexander/Asics Invitational with a time of 25:32.7 and one week later posted his best time of the year, 24:31.7, at the UAH Chargers Cross Country Invite where he placed 21st, the second-fastest Conference Carolinas performer.
Gaddis capped the month with a third-place finish at the Conference Carolinas Cross Country Championships where he was the top freshman finisher with a time of 24:58.3 which earned him Freshman of the Year honors. The team’s top finisher this season will lead the Lions in the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Championship on Saturday, Nov. 6.
2021 Men’s Cross Country Freshman of the Month Award Winners
September: Max Geckler, Lees-McRae
October: Luke Gaddis, Emmanuel