Probable Top Five:

JR Tanner Hinkle (14:09 5K; 29:16 10K; 146th NCAA XC ’14)
JR Troy Reeder (3:43 1500; 8:02 3K; 8:52 3K Steeple; 160th NCAA XC ’14)
SO Frank Lara (14:37 5K; 157th NCAA XC ’14)
JR Brock Baker (3:46 1500; 8:13 3K; 14:19 5K; 212th NCAA XC ’14)
SO Mark Hadley (210th NCAA XC ’14)

Impact Freshmen/Transfers:

N/A

Analysis:

The Furman Paladins burst onto the national scene last year with their perfect score at the Southern Conference Championships and earned an auto qualification (2nd) out of the tough Southeast Region. Unfortunately, their lack of experience did not help as they finished 30th at the NCAA Championships.

In 2015, head coach Robert Gary will look to his team to not just qualify for NCAAs but begin to move the program up the national ranks. The men graduate just one from their top nine in steeplechaser Tripp Hurt (best name ever!), and will now be led by junior Tanner Hinkle. Hinkle, who rocks 14:09/29:16 PBs, will be paired with junior steepler Troy Reeder (8:52) as their 1-2 punch.

In most cases a team returning their top five from NCAAs moves up the pre-season ranks, however due to a majority of the varsity team redshirting this past outdoor season and no big name new faces joining the squad, the jury is still out on how much the Furman men will improve in 2015. But, one thing we know for sure is that Furman will no longer be the surprise entry at NCAAs.