SEWANEE, Tenn. - The Berry Vikings wrapped up the 2026 regular season on Saturday at the Southern Athletic Association Cross Country Championships, highlighted by an individual conference championship on the men's side and a top-four team finish for both programs.
The men's team finished fourth overall with 80 points, while the women's team placed fourth with 134 points in a competitive field of conference opponents.
Leading the way for the Vikings was junior T Harris, who captured the men's individual SAA championship with a time of 25:48.1. Harris led the field of competitors across the finish line, earning the top spot on the podium.
For Harris, the race required both mental toughness and focus to navigate the challenging course and competitive field.
"The race was mentally demanding, requiring sharp focus to handle both the tough terrain and my positioning, which was needed in this field of competitive runners," Harris said.
Senior Brooks Johnson was the next Viking to finish, placing 12th overall in 26:45.1. Junior Owen Gagnon followed in 17th with a time of 27:10.6, while junior Tavian Anderson finished 25th in 27:37.4. Junior Xavier Anderson rounded out Berry's scoring five, placing 33rd overall with a time of 28:00.4.
The Vikings finished fourth behind Trinity, Centre and Rhodes, totaling 80 points.
On the women's side, senior Ella Williams paced Berry with a 10th-place finish, clocking a time of 23:34.2. Freshman Grace Scuderi followed with a 25th-place finish in 24:42.6.
Freshman Lucy Brooks crossed the line in 47th with a time of 26:06.9, followed closely by sophomore Natalie Sinclair, who finished 48th in 26:10.3. Sophomore Abby Reams completed Berry's top five, placing 53rd overall in 26:22.8.
The women's team collected 134 points to secure fourth place, finishing behind Trinity, Rhodes and Centre.
Head Coach Paul Deaton praised the effort and competitiveness of both squads, highlighting Harris's determination down the stretch and the challenges presented by a deep conference field.
"T really had to battle back to win in the last 400. He showed a lot of heart to never give in. The men ran to win but had a tough day the last couple miles. It shows we have a deep conference. The women competed well. I'm proud of both teams," Deaton said.
Both programs showcased strong individual performances and depth throughout the championship races as the Vikings brought their conference seasons to a close.
Berry will now look ahead to the postseason as the Vikings continue their pursuit of success on the regional stage.
