10/29/2026 12:05:00 PM | Cross Country
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – USC Upstate cross country seniors Eric Perry and Grace Glassmeyer have been named to the 2026 Big South Conference Men's and Women's Cross Country All-Academic Teams, respectively, recognizing their outstanding achievements in the classroom and on the course.
Perry, a Jacksonville, Fla., native, earns the recognition while pursuing a degree in Economics/Finance and maintaining a 3.919 GPA. The senior has been a consistent contributor for the Spartans throughout the 2026 campaign, competing in all four regular-season meets.
Perry opened the season with an 8K time of 26:50.8 at the Eye Opener, finishing 39th overall. He followed with a runner-up finish at the Brevard XC Classic, crossing the line in 27:10.5 to help Upstate capture the men's team title. At the Louisville Classic, Perry clocked a 26:09.6 before posting his fastest time of the season at the Upstate Invite, finishing 96th overall in 25:56.8.
Glassmeyer, a Lebanon, Ohio, native, earns All-Academic honors while majoring in Experimental Psychology with a 3.938 GPA. The senior has continued to showcase her consistency throughout the season, finishing among Upstate's top three runners in each of the team's four regular-season meets.
Glassmeyer began the season with a 5K time of 20:20.4 at the Eye Opener, placing 62nd overall. She followed with a second-place finish at the Brevard XC Classic, clocking a 20:34.0 to help the Spartan women secure the team championship with a perfect score of 15 points. At the Louisville Classic, Glassmeyer recorded her fastest 5K time of the season, crossing the line in 19:15.7. She concluded the regular season with a 19:22.8 performance at the Upstate Invite, finishing 109th overall and third among Spartan competitors.
The recognition marks another academic achievement for Glassmeyer, who was previously named to the Big South Women's Cross Country All-Academic Team in 2024. Both Perry and Glassmeyer also recorded perfect 4.0 GPAs during the Fall 2025 semester, helping the USC Upstate men's and women's programs earn USTFCCCA All-Academic Team honors.
Perry, Glassmeyer and the Spartans will return to competition on Friday, October 30, as USC Upstate hosts the 2026 Big South Cross Country Championships at the Roger Milliken Research Center in Spartanburg.
