LMU’s Fulton Named 2025 SAC Men’s Cross Country Scholar-Athlete of the Year

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – Lincoln Memorial University's Sam Fulton has been voted the 2025 South Atlantic Conference Men's Cross Country Scholar-Athlete of the Year, the league announced today.

The South Atlantic Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year award goes to one student-athlete in each championship sport and is selected by the SAC Faculty Athletic Representatives Committee. The honor recognizes academic performance, athletic success, service, and leadership.

Fulton, a senior Exercise Science major, holds a 3.953 cumulative GPA and has earned a spot on the Dean's List every semester. His academic honors include Chi Alpha Sigma national honor society recognition, USTFCCCA All-Academic honors, the D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award, and multiple endowed scholarships for academic excellence.

On the course, Fulton has been a consistent top performer for the Railsplitters throughout his career. His senior season featured a 26:14 8k at the Charger Invitational and a top-12 finish at the Catawba Fleet Feet XC Invitational. As a junior, he placed fifth at the 2024 SAC Championships and added podium finishes on the track, including second place in the DMR at the 2025 SAC Indoor Championships. He also posted career-best marks across the 8k, 1500m, and 3k during his time at LMU.

Fulton has been active across campus and in the community, serving in leadership roles with the Sport & Exercise Science Club and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, where he was vice president. He also volunteered weekly at the New Heights Church food drive and served as a worship team pianist. Faculty and coaches noted his initiative both in and out of the classroom, including conducting a research project on compression recovery and leading peers in academic settings.

2025 Men's Cross Country Scholar-Athlete Finalists
Andrew Zona, Carson-Newman
Eli Taylor, Mars Hill
Ian Pierce, Catawba
Jerry Ricker, Tusculum
Oskar Enseling, Wingate
Sam Fulton, Lincoln Memorial – Winner
Sam Tindall, Emory & Henry