University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics
Brevard XC Classic
Cross Country Sweeps Team Titles at Brevard XC Classic
9/19/2026 9:20:00 AM | Cross Country
BREVARD, N.C. – USC Upstate cross country turned in a dominant performance Friday at the Brevard XC Classic, sweeping the men's and women's team titles behind a pair of impressive efforts at the Brevard AirStrip.
The Spartan men claimed the team championship with 16 points, placing their five scoring runners among the first six finishers. Upstate finished well ahead of runner-up Milligan, which totaled 58 points, while Brevard finished third with 82. The Spartans' scoring five combined for a total time of 2:16:22 and an average of 27:16 across the 8K course.
Senior Mason Parish led the way for Upstate, capturing the individual title after crossing the finish line in 26:55.3. Parish was the lone runner in the field to break the 27-minute mark.
Senior Eric Perry followed Parish to give the Spartans a one-two finish, placing second overall in 27:10.5, while junior Cameron Moors made it three straight Upstate runners across the line with a third-place time of 27:15.8. Senior Connor Herold finished fourth in 27:28.6, and senior Elias Harrison completed Upstate's top five with a time of 27:32.3, tying freshman teammate Sam Howran for the fifth-fastest time in the race.
Upstate Men's Top Five
- Mason Parish – 1st – 26:55.3
- Eric Perry – 2nd – 27:10.5
- Cameron Moors – 3rd – 27:15.8
- Connor Herold – 4th – 27:28.6
- Elias Harrison – T-5th – 27:32.3
The Spartan women were equally dominant in the 5K, recording a perfect team score of 15 points after sweeping each of the first five scoring positions. Upstate totaled a combined time of 1:43:41 with an average time of 20:44, finishing 40 points ahead of second-place Milligan.
Senior Jordan Thornton paced the women's squad and earned the individual championship with a time of 20:12.6, leading an uninterrupted run of Spartans across the first six spots in the individual standings.
Senior Grace Glassmeyer crossed second in 20:34.0, followed by senior Sophia Outhous, who took third in 20:48.5. Junior Sofia Strom placed fourth with a time of 21:02.4, while sophomore Alexis Plaster completed the perfect team score by taking fifth in 21:03.9. Freshman Alice Taylor added a sixth-place finish in 21:15.3, giving Upstate each of the first six scoring-eligible finishers.
Upstate Women's Top Five
- Jordan Thornton – 1st – 20:12.6
- Grace Glassmeyer – 2nd – 20:34.0
- Sophia Outhous – 3rd – 20:48.5
- Sofia Strom – 4th – 21:02.4
- Alexis Plaster – 5th – 21:03.9
Friday's meet marked Upstate's second competition of the 2026 season following the season-opening Eye Opener on Sept. 4. The Spartans will now have two weeks away from competition before returning to action at Live in Lou in Louisville, Ky., on Saturday, Oct. 3.
