Wingate Sweeps Southeast Regional Titles; Catawba, Anderson Also Qualify for NCAA
WINGATE, N.C. (TheSAC.com) – The South Atlantic Conference turned in another dominant showing at the 2025 NCAA Division II Southeast Region Cross Country Championships on Saturday, with Wingate sweeping both team titles and Catawba and Anderson earning additional national championship berths.
The top three teams from each regional automatically qualify for the NCAA Division II National Championships, set for Saturday, Nov. 22 at the Wayne E. Dannehl Cross Country Course in Kenosha, Wisconsin, hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.
Men's Championship Recap
The 2023 national champion Wingate men left no doubt, sweeping the top five spots for a commanding victory with 16 points. The Bulldogs were led by Lars Laros (1st, 30:48.38), Samuel Gilson (2nd, 30:57.48), Alex Durant (3rd, 31:06.44), Mohamed Dahmouch (4th, 31:11.88), and Niels Peeters (5th, 31:24.35). Wingate will look to reclaim the national title after finishing as the national runner-up in 2024.
Anderson secured a program-best second-place finish to earn its first-ever NCAA Championship appearance, led by Elliot Dotson (5th, 31:21.41), Spain Vaughan (9th, 31:43.30), and Grayson Gibbons (12th, 31:59.02).
Catawba's James Shue (10th, 31:53.91) qualified individually for Nationals, earning one of two available at-large berths. The Catawba men finished fourth overall with 109 points.
Women's Championship Recap
The Wingate women repeated as regional champions with 29 points, placing five runners in the top 10. The Bulldogs were led by Evie Brooks (3rd, 21:32.92), Imane Jourji (4th, 21:34.95), Karlijn Mesman (5th, 21:40.16), Sira Bo (7th, 21:56.70), and Ona Alonso (10th, 22:20.70). Wingate will make another trip to Nationals after consecutive eighth-place finishes.
Catawba College senior Madi Clay captured the individual regional title in 21:17.06, winning by more than 13 seconds to claim Region Runner of the Year honors for the second time in her career. The Catawba women placed second as a team, punching their fourth consecutive ticket to the NCAA National Championships.
Anderson's Kennedy Roush (Greer, S.C.) earned one of the region's individual qualifying spots, finishing second overall in 21:30.09. The Trojans placed fourth as a team, just shy of a team qualification.
Other strong SAC performances included Carson-Newman (9th), Lenoir-Rhyne (11th), Mars Hill (12th), and Lincoln Memorial (6th).
Up Next
The NCAA Division II Cross Country National Championships will take place Saturday, November 22, at the Wayne E. Dannehl Cross Country Course in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Both Wingate teams, along with the Catawba women, Anderson men, and individual qualifiers Catawba's James Shue and Anderson's Kennedy Roush, will represent the South Atlantic Conference on the national stage.