Morris Qualifies For NCAA Cross Country Championships

Photos courtesy of Tim Cowie (https://timcowiephotography.com)

Morris Qualifies For NCAA Cross Country Championships

RESULTS (PDF)

ROCK HILL, S.C. – With a personal best time of 20:01.4 and sixth-place individual finish at the 2018 NCAA Southeast Regional meet, sophomore Logan Morris qualified for the 2018 NCAA Cross Country Championships Friday afternoon at the Winthrop Coliseum and Farm course in Rock Hill, South Carolina. The national championship meet is set to commence Saturday, Nov. 17 in Madison, Wisconsin. Including Morris, four of the five women’s scorers achieved personal bests to propel the Tigers to their best regional finish since 2012.

“I’m so excited with how the entire team raced, and I’m happy to add one more race to my season” said Morris. “Everything finally fell into place today and our work this season showed on the course. I’ve been dreaming of making cross country nationals since last season, so it’s amazing to live this out.”

Morris becomes the 22^nd All-Region recipient in program history after placing in the top-25 at Saturday’s race, following in the footsteps of former teammate Grace Barnett, who achieved in the honor in 2016.

“Logan ran great today,” said Clemson track & field head coach Mark Elliott. “Qualifying for the NCAAs is a feat within itself, but it also helped the team to its best regional finish since in six years. This is a great comeback for the women after we didn’t quite get results we wanted at ACCs. I’m very proud of how they competed today.”

Behind Morris, was senior Elizabeth Dawson, who placed 57^th overall and achieved her personal best of 21:17.3 in her final outing in a Clemson cross country uniform. Freshman Riley Coggin had her best meet of the season, turning in a time of 21:19.3, also a personal best, to place 61^st. Right behind Coggin, was senior Erin McLaughlin in 67^th whose career-best 21:24.8 earned her a 67^th-place finish. Sophomore Jenna Gearing rounded out the Tigers’ top-5 with a time of 21:32.5 in 73^rd.

The men were led by John Ward (109^th), who crossed the finish line at the 32:23.2 mark in his first-ever 10K race. Seniors Jacob Slann (120^th) and Jackson Goodwin (129^th) completed their races in 32:41.7 and 32:53.2, respectively. Rounding out the men’s scorers were Michael Smith (132^nd) and Colt Griffith (155^th) in their first career 10K races. Smith finished in 32:53.2, while Griffith clocked a 33:23.9. The Tiger men finished in 23^rd with 645 points.

“For a bunch of young guys, I think they’re a solid group that’s continuing to progress” said Elliott. “Overall, the eight guys we’ve had all season have been consistent and in a year from now I believe they will be even better.”

Women’s results (top-5 score)
6. Logan Morris, 20:01.4 (personal best)
57. Elizabeth Dawson, 21:17.3 (personal best)
61. Riley Coggin, 21:19.3 (personal best)
67. Erin McLaughlin, 21:24.8 (personal best)
73. Jenna Gearing, 21.32.5
79. Liz Sauder, 21:37.0 (personal best)
143. Morgan Wittrock, 22:22.9

Men’s results (top-5 score)
109. John Ward, 32:23.2 (first career 10K)
120. Jacob Slann, 32:41.7
129. Jackson Goodwin, 32:49.2
132. Michael Smith, 32:53.2 (first career 10K)
155. Colt Griffith, 33:23.9 (first career 10K)
188. Colby Caviness, 34:29.9 (first career 10K)
189. Daniel Shaughnessy, 34:29.9 (personal best)

For complete coverage of the Tiger cross country/track & field team, follow @ClemsonTrackXC on Twitter and Instagram, and ‘Clemson University Track & Field’ on Facebook.

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👏🤩 Congrats to our very own Logan Morris, who qualified for the 2018 NCAA Cross Country Championship meet (Nov. 17)! #ClemsonTrackXC 🐅🐾

A post shared by Clemson Track & Field / XC (@clemsontrackxc) on Nov 9, 2018 at 11:22am PST

Proud of these two teams!#ClemsonTrackXC🐅🐾 pic.twitter.com/z0eJLBZ0K4

— Clemson Track & Field (@ClemsonTrackXC) November 9, 2018

Here’s the Southeast All-Region award ceremony, honoring Logan Morris!#ClemsonTrackXC🐅🐾 pic.twitter.com/cPhUiSKQ0b

— Clemson Track & Field (@ClemsonTrackXC) November 9, 2018

.@LoganDeane is your first S.C. alumni finisher in NCAA SE 6K (20:01, sixth) #schsxc #ncaaxc https://t.co/7433XrrtsZ

— scmilesplitus (@scmilesplitus) November 9, 2018

👏👏👏 With 264 points, the Tiger women finish in 9th overall, which is their best regional finish since 2012!#ClemsonTrackXC🐅🐾 pic.twitter.com/dW9OwwQ5xe

— Clemson Track & Field (@ClemsonTrackXC) November 9, 2018

👏🤩 Our very own Logan Morris (20:01.4) PR's in the 6K at Southeast Regionals to qualify NCAA Championships!#ClemsonTrackXC🐅🐾 pic.twitter.com/tEBgstYeUe

— Clemson Track & Field (@ClemsonTrackXC) November 9, 2018

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