MISENHEIMER, N.C. (Sept. 6, 2026) - Pfeiffer delivered a dominant performance on its home course on Friday, sweeping the top five individual places and easily capturing the team title at the 2026 Pfeiffer University Cross Country Invitational.

The Falcons finished with a near-perfect team score of 15 points, placing all five scoring runners across the first five positions and defeating runner-up Warren Wilson by 47 points. Johnson C. Smith was third with 79 points, followed by Johnson & Wales (N.C.) with 85.

Junior Bricen Burleson led the Pfeiffer charge, winning the men's 5-kilometer race in 16 minutes, 10.9 seconds. Senior Cannon Powell finished second in 16:14.3, while sophomore Isaiah Watts took third in 16:19.7. Freshman Aiden Edwards and junior Oliver Candela-Godinez completed the sweep with fourth- and fifth-place finishes in 16:32.0 and 16:55.5, respectively.

Pfeiffer's scoring five were separated by just 44.7 seconds, highlighting the depth that carried the Falcons to the runaway victory. The team posted a combined scoring time of 1:22:13. 

The Falcons continued to pack runners near the front of the field even after scoring was complete. Sophomore Triston Rabon and junior Austin Drewery finished sixth and seventh overall, giving Pfeiffer the race's top seven finishers.

Host Pfeiffer ultimately placed 20 runners among the race's top 32 finishers while competing in challenging conditions that featured blazing hot temperatures of 94 degrees and sunny skies.

Nathan Drew of Warren Wilson was the first non-Pfeiffer runner across the line, placing ninth in 19:20.5. Tyvion Williams led Johnson C. Smith with a 10th-place finish in 19:59.2.

FINAL RESULTS