GEORGETOWN, Texas – The Oglethorpe men's cross country team delivered an exceptional performance at the Southern Athletic Association Championships, finishing fifth overall and claiming the top two individual spots in the race.

Senior Zachary Benner led the charge, winning the men's 8k with a championship record time of 24:35.5 to capture SAA athlete of the year honors and a spot on the All-SAA first team. It marked the latest achievement in a standout season for Benner, who has been a consistent frontrunner all year.

This marked the second year in a row that Oglethorpe claimed the athlete of the year crown after Ashton Deriso became the first Petrel in program history to win the award in 2024. This year, Deriso followed close behind Benner, securing second place with a time of 25:05.0, also earning All-SAA first team recognition.

Benner is now a four-time All-Conference performer, having earned first team each of the last four seasons. Deriso also is a four-time winner, earning second team in 2021 and first team in 2022, 2024 and 2025.

Freshman Zeno Goss added to the Petrels' strong showing, posting a personal record of 27:53.3 in his first collegiate championship race.

With top-tier leadership from their seniors and a promising performance from their underclassmen, the Petrels now set their sights on the NCAA South Regional Championships in Roanoke, Virginia, on Saturday, Nov. 15.