Men's Cross Country

Berry Picked to Continue Streak and Win SAA Cross Country Crown

CANTON, Ga. - Four-time defending champions Berry are the favorites once again, topping the 2025 SAA Men’s Cross Country preseason poll.

The race promises to be tight, as only a single point separates Berry from new conference member Trinity. Both teams split the first-place votes, signaling an exciting start to the season. Centre follows closely in third with 45 points, while Oglethorpe and Southwestern round out the top five.

The preseason poll was determined by the votes of the SAA’s eight head coaches.


2025 MXC Preseason Poll
1. Berry - 52 (4)
2. Trinity - 51 (4)
3. Centre - 45
4. Oglethorpe - 35
5. Southwestern - 31 
6. Rhodes - 30
7. Sewanee - 22
8. Millsaps - 14

Berry is just one title away from tying Centre for the most SAA Men’s Cross Country championships. Led by SAA Coach of the Year Paul Deaton, the Vikings return key athletes including Ethan Smith, a first-team All-SAA honoree who finished fourth individually last season, and second team All-SAA honoree Troy Blackwood. T Harris, the 2024 SAA Newcomer of the Year, also returns to bolster Berry’s lineup.

Trinity, last season’s second-place finisher in the SCAC, brings back a top runner who earned All-SCAC honors, Logan Nasky, who posted his second-fastest time ever at the SCAC Championships to finish sixth.

Centre will be led by Mitchel Meier of Floyds Knobs, Indiana, who finished fifth at last year’s championship, with teammate Reeve VanDemark close behind.

The 2025 SAA cross country championship is set for November 1 in Georgetown,Texas, hosted by Southwestern.
 
SAA Men’s Cross Country Champions
2024 – Berry
2023 – Berry
2022 – Berry
2021 – Berry
2021* – Centre
2019 – Centre
2018 – Rhodes
2017 – Rhodes
2016 – Rhodes
2015 – Rhodes
2014 – Centre
2013 – Centre
2012 – Centre
*Championship conducted in spring due to Covid

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