Spartanburg, S.C. – The King University men's cross country team closed out its 2026 season with a strong showing at the Conference Carolinas Championships in Spartanburg, S.C., placing sixth out of 14 teams with a score of 180.
Meet recap
Freshman Mario Ruda Puertas led the Tornado with a third-place finish, clocking 25:01.1 for the 8k course. Cole Johnson followed in 20th (26:09.2), while Lance Hatcher (39th, 27:00.7), Spencer Utsey (60th, 27:51.2), and Evan Deichert (75th, 28:26.1) rounded out the scoring five. Braydon Muhly (87th) and Joshua Hathaway (88th) provided depth for King. The Tornado posted an average time of 26:54 for their scoring runners, with just over three minutes separating their top five.
Mario Ruda Puertas earned first team all-conference honors with his third-place finish as well as earning Freshman of the Year.
Cole Johnson earned third team all-conference honors with his 20th-place finish.
The team showed pack strength and consistency across the 8k championship course.
Up next
The Tornado will now turn their attention to the NCAA Division II Regional Championships, set for Saturday, November 21. King will look to build on its momentum and represent the university on the regional stage.
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King Tornado Athletics – King University
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