SMC Finishes Third at 2024 Continental Athletic Conference Men's Cross Country Championship

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The Spartanburg Methodist College men's cross country team took third at the 2024 Continental Athletic Conference Men's Cross Country Championship on Friday.

SMC freshman Caleb Williams was the top finisher for SMC for the third time on the season. The Columbia, South Carolina native was 12th overall and covered the 8k course in 30:18 at Holloway Park in Lakeland, Florida.

The second runner for SMC was Ryan Hunter, who finished 14th in 30:32.8, followed by Gabriel Toney, who was 17th in 31:13.4. The next finishers for SMC were Omarion Ocampo-Rios in 18th in 31:37.2 and Andre Kelly III in 31:46.9 in 19th. The Pioneer coaching staff was pleased to see the 23-second gap between its third through fifth runners.

Also for SMC, Dylan Seppala was 21st in 32:17.6, followed by Marc Mixtega in 22nd in 32:25.1 and Luke Kochanowicz in 23rd in 32:30.

Following the meet, Ocampo-Rios received the NAIA Champions of Character award from the conference office as the honoree from SMC. 

Haskell Indian took home the team title with 20 points, landing four runners in the top five on its way to the title.