HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - Covenant Cross Country started the postseason on Friday morning at the CCS Championship. For the second year in a row, the Men's team won first place, behind five runners finishing inside the top eight. The Scots totaled 26 points which is a new CCS Championship record.
The Women's team had a great day of its own, finishing second with 42 points, 10 points behind first-place Asbury. Five of Covenant's six runners placed inside the top-14, earning All-Conference recognition.
MEN'S RESULTS
- Ethan Saiki led the Scots with an 8k time of 26:22.36 to place second, which is the highest and fastest any Covenant men's runner has ever finished at the CCS Championship. It's the second race in a row that Saiki has finished second after doing so at the Chattanooga Intercollegiate.
- For the second year in a row, Daniel Bowles placed fourth, this year doing so with a season-best time of 27:14.35.
- Freshman Trey Mortensen came across the finish line next with a time of 27:23.98 in his first CCS Championship, placing fifth. He was the second-fastest freshman in the meet.
- Alex Burns ran the race in 27:33.37 to bring in a seventh-place finish for the Scots, moving up six spots from the 2024 CCS Championship.
- With a PR time of 27:40.49, Chandler Lines came through with an eighth-place result, to round out the Scots who contributed to the team score.
- Aidan DeVries put in a strong effort for Covenant, placing 12th with a PR time of 28:03.14.
- Coming in at 14th and securing the last All-CCS spot for the Scots was Jack Dupree, who crossed the finish line at 28:21.55.
- John Purtill (28:23.78, 16th) and Trey Faulk (28:34.69, 19th) each finished inside the top 20 for Covenant.
- To see the times of the other 11 Covenant runners, click the results tab on this page.
MEN'S NOTES
- Ethan Saiki, Daniel Bowles, Trey Mortensen, and Alex Burns each earned First Team All-CCS honors.
- Chandler Lines, Aidan DeVries, and Jack Dupree each made the cut for Second Team All-CCS.
- After the meet, Head Coach Eli Kaczinski was named CCS Coach of the Year for Men's Cross Country.
- Covenant has now won five conference titles since 2010.
- Saiki's time of 26:22.36 is the second-fastest time of any Covenant runner at a Conference Meet in school history.
- Alex Burns was Covenant's representative on the All-Sportsmanship team.
2025 CCS Men’s Cross Country All-Conference Honors
Individual Scores
First Team
- Layton Bradford, Piedmont – 26:04.00
- Ethan Saiki, Covenant – 26:22.36
- Jesse Gassmann, Asbury – 27:06.02
- Daniel Bowles, Covenant – 27:14.35
- Trey Mortensen, Covenant – 27:23.98
- Tyler Tangel, Maryville – 27:32.49
- Alex Burns, Covenant – 27:33.37
Second Team
- Chandler Lines, Covenant – 27:40.49
- Adyn Elliott, Maryville – 27:43.92
- Daniel Kersey, Asbury – 27:48.50
- James LeNeve, Maryville – 27:51.39
- Aidan Devries, Covenant – 28:03.14
- Steven Cope, Maryville – 28:05.17
- Jack Dupree, Covenant – 28:21.55
Team Scores
- Covenant, 26
- Maryville, 54
- Asbury, 67
- Piedmont, 113
- Belhaven, 122
- LaGrange, 180
- Huntingdon, 191
Men’s Cross Country Superlative Awards
Runner of the Year
Layton Bradford, Piedmont
Rookie of the Year
Jesse Gassman, Asbury
Coach of the Year
Eli Kaczinski, Covenant
Men's Cross Country All-Sportsmanship Team
| Dan Kersey |
Asbury |
| Drew Duckworth |
Belhaven |
| Alex Burns |
Covenant |
| Levi Garrett |
Huntingdon |
| Alan Vidrio Buen Rostro |
LaGrange |
| Steven Cope |
Maryville |
| Brody Geckler |
Piedmont |
CONNECT WITH THE SCOTS
Be sure to follow the Scots all season long on
athletics.covenant.edu and on social media at
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