HIGH POINT, N.C. — The High Point University men's cross country team enters the 2026 Big South Conference Championship meet led by seniors Avery Crowell and Gavin Stevens, sophomore Blake Nicholson, and freshman Bence Acsádi after strong 2026 campaigns as the Panthers pursue their first title since 2014.

High Point will race Friday, October 30, at 9:45 a.m. in Spartanburg, S.C., at Milliken Research Park. For live results and meet information, visit the Big South XC Championship Site. 

The Panthers competed in four meets this season and won the Richmond Invitational. HPU opened with a third-place team finish at the Elon Opener, led by Nicholson's second-place finish, then placed fourth at the NC State Adidas XC Challenge. High Point closed the regular season with a fifth-place finish at the Joe Handelman '52 Fall Classic.

Three Panthers earned weekly honors this season. Nicholson received runner-up of the week recognition after finishing second at Elon, while Crowell earned runner of the week honors following his performance at NC State. Acsádi was named freshman of the week after his top-10 finish at the Richmond Invitational. Stevens also took home a pre-championship award, being named to the Big South 2026 All-Academic Team for the second year in a row. 

Crowell has been a key contributor for HPU this season, recording several top finishes, highlighted by a second-place finish at the Richmond Invitational with an 8k time of 24:38.3.

With six upperclassmen and eight underclassmen, the Panthers enter the conference meet with a strong roster and title aspirations.