ROANOKE, Va. — Pfeiffer University's men's cross country team delivered a standout performance at the South Region Showdown on Saturday, finishing second overall in a competitive 21-team field at Green Hill Park.
The Falcons posted a team time of 2:08:28 in the 8K race, averaging 25:41 per runner, which is a new school record to score 65 points, trailing only Division I East Tennessee State, which won the meet with 34 points.
Senior
Sawyer Helms led the way for Pfeiffer, placing 13th overall with a time of 25:16.1. He was closely followed by
Cannon Powell (17th, 25:30.2),
Bricen Burleson (22nd, 25:49.0),
Alim Coleman (24th, 25:55.1), and
Jorge Clemente-Garcia (26th, 25:57.7), all finishing within the top 30 to secure the team's runner-up spot.
Pfeiffer's depth was evident, with
Ezequiel Cannas (27th, 25:58.3) and
Triston Rabon (36th, 26:19.5) also contributing strong performances.
The Falcons outpaced regional rivals Washington and Lee (3rd, 100 points) and Ohio Northern (4th, 116 points), solidifying their status as a top contender in the South Region heading into the postseason.
Pfeiffer will now turn their focus to the USA South Championship on Saturday, Nov. 1 at 11:00 a.m.. The Falcons will look to defend their USA South title from 2024 as they play host to the annual league championship for the first time.
