Berkeley’s Greathouse commits to Furman

Posted Feb 5, 2010 by Bill Ward

Updated Feb 5, 2010 at 05:06 PM

Tyler Greathouse, a six-time qualifier for the state cross country championships and a Class 2A all-state performer in the sport last fall, has made a verbal commitment to run for Furman University, Greathouse confirmed Friday.

Greathouse said his finalists also included Wofford College and Davidson College. He chose Furman for its academic reputation and the coaching staff. He expects to sign his official paperwork early next week.

“I really like the coaches there,” Greathouse said of Furman. “And they should have a pretty good team next year.”

Paladins coach Gene Mullin has been at the Division I-AA program for more than 25 years and is a former assistant track coach for the Saudi Arabian national team. He has won nine Southern Conference Coach-of-the-Year awards and his athletes have received more than 200 All-Southern Conference citations.

Meanwhile, Furman assistant coach Michael Caldwell is a former Florida Track Club teammate of Olympian Frank Shorter and Marty Liquori.

Greathouse finished a career-best seventh in last season’s 2A cross country finals and was a district champion. In 2008, Greathouse was a regional champion in 1A. He owns a 5-kilometer person best of 15 minutes, 53 seconds.