Youth was the buzz word for the 2011 Emory men’s cross country team with the team slowly developing its young members into a group that promises to be a force to be reckoned with in years to come.

With just three seniors represented on the roster, the Eagles entered many of its events as one of youngest teams competing.  Despite its youth, Emory recorded a number of highlights that bode well for the future as a host runners earned valuable experience.

Early in the year, Emory captured second place at the Sewanee Invitational, trailing only Division I Mississippi State, and also took home runner-up honors at the Berry College Invitational.  The Eagles closed out the month of September with a solid eighth-place finish out of 32 squads at the prestigious Griak Invitational before taking home the top spot at the JSU Foothills Invitational, finishing ahead of a number of Division II programs.

Emory stumbled somewhat at the University Athletic Association Championships, finishing eighth, before closing out the year with a third-place finish at the NCAA South/Southeast Regional Championships in Seguin, Texas.   

Individually, senior Geraint Davies was named the team's Most Valuable Runner after ranking among the top three Emory runners in five of his six competitions while pacing the Eagles pack on four occasions.  Davies earned all-region honors after a posting a ninth-place finish at the South/Southeast Regional Championships and in the process became the lone Eagle to earn an at-large berth to compete at the national championship.  In addition, Davies was Emory’s only representative on the All-UAA Team with a second-team nod.

Junior Stephen Ellwood and sophomore Alex Fleischhacker also were all-region honorees as Ellwood crossed the finish line in 10^th place out of 174 runners at the South/Southeast Championships while Fleischhacker registered a 32^nd-place effort.

Honors and Awards