University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics
NCAA
11/12/2026 9:00:00 AM | Cross Country
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – USC Upstate men's and women's cross country teams return to postseason competition Friday, November 13, as the Spartans host the 2026 NCAA Division I Southeast Regional Championships at the Milliken Research Center in Spartanburg, S.C.
The championship meet will feature some of the top collegiate distance runners from across the Southeast, with teams competing for an opportunity to advance to the NCAA Division I Cross Country National Championships. The women's 6K race is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m., followed by the men's 10K race at 11:00 a.m.
Friday's competition marks the second consecutive championship event hosted by USC Upstate this season, following the Big South Conference Championships on October 30. The Spartans will look to use their familiarity with the Milliken course to their advantage as they compete against a talented regional field.
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MEET INFORMATION
- Meet: NCAA Division I Southeast Regional Championships
- Date: Friday, November 13, 2026
- Location: Milliken Research Center | Spartanburg, S.C.
- Women's Race: 10:00 a.m. ET | 6K
- Men's Race: 11:00 a.m. ET | 10K
- Host: USC Upstate
- Live Results: https://tinyurl.com/297t5rc9
- Meet Info: https://tinyurl.com/2f678xf8
LAST TIME OUT
USC Upstate enters Friday's regional championships following its appearance at the Big South Conference Championships on October 30, where the men's team finished fifth overall with 160 points and the women's team placed eighth with 201 points.
On the men's side, freshman Aiden Abrahams led the Spartans in the 8K competition, finishing 31st overall with a time of 25:39.8. Junior Nick Brooks followed closely behind in 32nd place at 25:40.9, while freshman Yariel Ferretti crossed the finish line in 25:46.8 to place 34th. Junior Cameron Moors added a 37th-place finish with a time of 25:54.0, and senior Eric Perry rounded out the scoring five in 45th place at 26:15.3.
The Spartans placed four runners inside the top 40, with their top three finishers separated by just seven seconds.
On the women's side, senior Jordan Thornton paced Upstate with a 21st-place finish in the 5K, crossing the line in 18:27.0. Freshman Alice Taylor followed in 47th place with a time of 19:28.6, while fellow freshman Breanna Sturtevant placed 49th in 19:32.8. Senior Sophia Outhous finished 52nd in 19:57.9, and sophomore Jada Makis completed the scoring five in 53rd place at 19:59.6.
The conference championships provided both squads with valuable postseason experience as they prepare to face an expanded field at the regional level.
REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP OUTLOOK
Friday's NCAA Southeast Regional Championships will bring together programs from across the region, including Clemson, Furman, NC State, North Carolina, Virginia, Virginia Tech and several Big South Conference opponents.
The championship will also feature longer race distances than those contested at the Big South Championships, with the women moving from a 5K to a 6K and the men transitioning from an 8K to a 10K.
For USC Upstate, the opportunity to compete on its home course provides an added advantage as the Spartans look to build on their performances from the conference championships. Head coach Carson Blackwelder's squads have competed at the Milliken course throughout the season, giving the runners familiarity with the layout and terrain.
The top two teams in each regional race will automatically advance to the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships, with additional opportunities for at-large team and individual qualification.
The NCAA Division I Cross Country National Championships are scheduled for Saturday, November 21, at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course in Terre Haute, Indiana.
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