College cross country: Two Pfeiffer athletes will compete in nationals

Published 7:22 pm Thursday, November 21, 2024

Pfeiffer Sports Information
MISENHEIMER —  The Pfeiffer University men’s cross country team had two student-athletes selected to compete in the upcoming NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships on Nov. 23 at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Sawyer Helms claimed a 12th-place finish in the 160-runner field at the NCAA South Region  with a time of 25:15.3 over the 8,000-meter course in Clinton, Mississippi. Teammate Cannon Powell claimed 21st place with a 25:44.2, also earning an individual invitation to compete.

Thirty-two teams will make up the NCAA Division III Championships, 10 of which earned automatic qualification by winning their respective regions. An additional 22 teams earned at-large selections.

Powell and Helms qualified for the field, as they each were one of the first seven individuals who were not part of a qualifying team.

The duo are the first Pfeiffer men’s cross country runners to be selected to compete as individuals in the NCAA Championship and are also the first pair to represent Pfeiffer as a Division III member.

Pfeiffer placed fifth in the South Region. Camden Misenheimer was the third runner for Pfeiffer, while Landon Cromer (South Rowan) and Bricen Burleson (Carson) were fourth and fifth.
Bob Marchinko coaches the Falcons.