UMATILLA, Fl. – Beacon College placed four runners in the top five spots of the men’s race to bring home the inaugural New South Athletic Conference Cross Country Championship at the Florida Elks Youth Camp on Saturday.

Beacon’s Josh Popper took honors as the top finisher with a time of 22:43 in the 6K event followed by Justin Quevedo in second. URBE University’s Leland Hernandez finished third. Beacon’s Javon Bell and Jaylen Diamond rounded out the top five.

The Beacon women’s team ran unopposed with Jaylen Williams running a 21:49 in the 4K for first place, followed by Katherine Soroa, Avery Ayes, Ann-Duong Semilitz, and Juliah Pregno.

NSAC CROSS COUNTRY ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS 2025

NAME                                   HONOR                     SCHOOL

Jaylen Williams (W)                     1^st Team                               Beacon College

Katherine Soroa (W)                    1st Team                              Beacon College

Avery Ayes (W)                              2nd Team                            Beacon College

Anh Duong-Semlitz (W)             2nd Team                            Beacon College

Juliah Pregno (W)                          Honorable Mention          Beacon College

Joshua Popper (M)                       1^st Team                               Beacon College

Justin Quevedo (M)                      1st Team                              Beacon College

Leland Hernandez (M)                2nd Team                            URBE University

Jovan Bell (M)                                2nd Team                            Beacon College

Jaylen Diamond (M)                     Honorable Mention          Beacon College

Fernando Navarro (M)                Honorable Mention          URBE University

Owen Herrigel (M)                        Honorable Mention          Beacon College

UMATILLA, Fl. – The New South Athletic Conference continues to break ground in 2025 with more sport championships than ever before. Next up: The inaugural Cross Country Meet at the Florida Elks Youth Camp in Umatilla, Florida October 24 and 25.

“This is an exciting year for the conference, no doubt about that,” said commissioner Mike Davis. “The first ever cross country championship means more opportunities for our student-athletes than ever before, and I have to thank Beacon College and coach Tony Wrice for planning and organizing what promises to be a fantastic event.”

There will be championship runs for women and men. The course will encompass the sprawling layout at the Elks Campground, which will also lend its housing opportunities to the runners.

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