Cross Country Earns NCAA Championship Berth with Runner-Up Finish at Regionals
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (Nov. 14, 2025) – For the first time in program history, the Gamecocks are headed to the NCAA Cross Country Championship as a team.
South Carolina earned a berth into the NCAA Championship, finishing runner-up at the Southeast Regional in Charlottesville, Va. on Friday morning to snatch an automatic qualifying spot. This is the sixth time this season that the Garnet & Black have finished on the podium. Today’s runner-up finish also marks the first Top 10 regional finish since 2012 (10th) and just the fourth time in program history that the Gamecocks have finished Top 10 at the Southeast Regional.
As she has done all season, Salma Elbadra led the charge for the Gamecocks. Elbadra fended off a loaded field en route to the individual title, the program’s first individual win at the regional meet. The Morocco native shattered the previous program record in the 6K of 19:41.5 held by Judy Kosgei, crossing the line in 19:03.1. This is Elbadra’s second win of the season and third podium finish in four events.
South Carolina received a big boost from a trio of runners who finished in a pack together as Abir Reffas, Anya Arroyo and Teresa Cherotich provided the Gamecocks with critical points. Reffas finished 18th overall when she crossed the line in 19:57.3 for the fifth fastest time in school history. She was followed by Arroyo in 21st with a time of 20:04.0 and Cherotich in 22nd after clocking 20:08.8. Arroyo’s time was an improvement on her personal best as she now sits sixth in Gamecock history.
The final scorer belonged to Abigail White who crossed the line in a personal best time of 20:27.9 to finish 38th overall. White’s time slid her into seventh place all time in program history.
The final two runners for South Carolina also improved on their personal best marks and jumped further into the record books as Cate Conklin ran 20:32.2 (8th in program history) and Jade Buridon clocked 20:50.6 for 14th fastest mark in school history.
N.C. State captured the top spot as a team, collecting 55 points along the way. The Gamecocks (100 points) held off North Carolina (108 points) as the two teams finished second and third, respectively. The host squad, Virginia, placed fourth overall with 138 points, while Wake Forest rounded out the top five with 147 points. Clemson also participated in the Southeast Regional, finishing 143 points behind the Gamecocks in eighth place.
South Carolina will hear its name called for the first time in the NCAA Division I Cross Country Selection Show tomorrow, Nov. 15, at 5 p.m. (ET) on NCAA.com. A link to the show will be on the front page of NCAA.com.
Team Results
1. N.C. State – 55 points
2. South Carolina – 100 points
3. North Carolina – 108 points
Individual Gamecock Results
1. Salma Elbadra – 19:03.1*
18. Abir Reffas – 19:57.3*
21. Anya Arroyo – 20:04.0*
22. Teresa Cherotich – 20:08.8
38. Abigail White – 20:27.9*
43. Cate Conklin – 20:32.2*
61. Jade Buridon – 20:50.6*
* – denotes 6K personal best
