By: Spencer Mathis Director of Media & Communications
KERNERSVILLE, S.C. | The Young Harris College men's cross country team capped off an impressive season with a runner-up finish at the 2025 Conference Carolinas Championship, held Friday in Kernersville. The Mountain Lions placed second overall with a team score of 51 points, narrowly falling to a strong UNC Pembroke squad. The runner up finish marks the best performance in a cross country championship in program history!
In the 8K championship race, Young Harris showcased its depth and consistency, placing seven runners in the top 26 and earning six All-Conference honors. Junior Wyatt Whipp led the charge with a third-place finish, clocking in at 25:47.26. Freshman standout Aidan Vrazel followed in seventh (26:02.77), while sophomore Austin Dezwart (10th, 26:08.43), senior Noah Mason (13th, 26:14.67), sophomore Xander Potter (18th, 26:38.68), and senior Matthew Honeycutt (21st, 26:46.16) rounded out the All-Conference honorees.
Freshman Dylan Stone secured a 26th-place finish (27:05.67), helping the Mountain Lions to a total team time of 2:10:51.81 and an average of 26:10.37 per runner.
Top Young Harris Finishers:
QUOTE FROM DIRECTOR OF CROSS COUNTRY/TRACK & FIELD MATT LOGAN:
"I am really proud of the lads! I'm not sure what else we could have done. We had six All-Conference athletes and seven guys in the top 26. We were just beaten by a very good UNCP squad. You work all year to give yourself a shot, and I'm proud of the effort and the character of this group. It's a group I'll never forget."
The runner-up finish builds on a historic season for the Mountain Lions, who opened the year with a first-place team finish at the Bruins XC Night Classic hosted by Bob Jones University. The Mountain Lions were top class all season long, putting together an incredible finish in the Conference Carolinas Championship.
NEXT UP:
The NCAA Southeast Region Championships await on Saturday (Nov. 8) in Charlotte, North Carolina!
