Men’s Cross Country Finishes as Runner-Up at 2025 SEC Championships
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Georgia men’s cross country takes historic runner-up finish to open the post season at the 2025 SEC Cross Country Championships hosted by Tennessee at Cherokee Farms on Friday morning.
The No. 20 Georgia men finished in second place in the 8K championship race with three All-SEC performances, proving the Bulldogs ability to compete in the postseason and adding another impressive finish to the season’s resume ahead of the NCAA South Regional next Friday. Meanwhile, the Lady Bulldogs finished 15th, against a competitive field with two impressive individual performances.
The Georgia men’s runner-up finish marks only the fourth time in school history the Bulldogs have taken second place at the conference championship meet, the first time since 2012. The Bulldogs were selected to finish eighth in the in the SEC preseason poll, today’s finish outperforms the preseason coaches’ poll prediction by six places. In addition to their historic finish, Georgia tallied 123 points, registering ranked wins over No. 29 Oklahoma (126), No. 22 Missouri (145) and No. 26 Ole Miss (190).
Junior Ryan Olree led the Bulldogs for the fourth time this season, finishing ninth at 23:34.4, marking the best individual finish by a Bulldog since 2013. His efforts earned him Second-Team All-SEC honors and helped lead all five Georgia scorers within the top-60.
Finishing second for the Bulldogs was graduate transfer Will Aitken, who took 13th at 23:40.32 to secure Second-Team All-SEC honors. Following closely behind was graduate transfer Matias Reynaga earning Third-Team All-SEC honors in 16th with a career-best 23:43.05.
Other Bulldogs running on Friday were junior Conner Rutherford (29th, 24:09.46), graduate transfer Oliver Smart (57th, 24:39.42) and freshman Kristers Kudlis (73rd, 25:06.47).
“I’m really pleased with how we did,” said head coach Adam Tribble. “I mean we got six warriors here, and they came out here and we had some really great efforts. We had to control the things that we can control, and they really did. They ran really tough, came away second place today, just really proud of the efforts that they put in and how they’ve just really embraced each other and really did a great job of taking everything to a whole other level this year.”
On the women’s side, the Lady Bulldogs finished with 388 points in 15th. Freshman Anastasia Nilsson led the way for the third meet in row, crossing the line at 20:51.61 in 30th. Following close behind was sophomore Izzy Yonas in 40th at 21:04.30.
Other Lady Bulldogs running in the championship 6K were freshmen Lauren Skeens (121st, 22:50.54), Madeleine Holland (138th, 23:39.67), Erin Musty (141st, 23:48.00) and Maeve Waddell (142nd, 23:50.90).
“I’m pleased, we moved up a lot, I think especially both Anastasia and Izzy, those were big efforts, and I’m just proud of the way that the ladies came out and competed,” said Coach Tribble. “I’m excited for what’s to come.”
Georgia now looks ahead to the NCAA South Regional in Huntsville, Ala. on Fri., Nov. 14th, where both teams will race for a chance to compete in the 2025 NCAA Championships.
Results and recaps from the Bulldogs’ cross country season will be found at georgiadogs.com. News and updates from Georgia’s track and field and cross country teams are always located on X/Instagram at @UGATrack.
Men’s Individual Results
9. Ryan Olree – 23:34.43
13. Will Aitken – 23:40.32
16. Matias Reynaga – 23:43.05 – PR
29. Conner Rutherford – 24:09.46
57. Oliver Smart – 24:39.42
73. Kristers Kudlis – 25:06.47
Women’s Individual Results
30. Anastasia Nilsson – 20:51.61
40. Izzy Yonas – 21:04.30
121. Lauren Skeens – 22:50.54
138. Madeleine Holland – 23:39.67
141. Erin Musty – 23:48.00
142. Maeve Waddell – 23:50.90
The No. 20 Georgia men finished in second place in the 8K championship race with three All-SEC performances, proving the Bulldogs ability to compete in the postseason and adding another impressive finish to the season’s resume ahead of the NCAA South Regional next Friday. Meanwhile, the Lady Bulldogs finished 15th, against a competitive field with two impressive individual performances.
The Georgia men’s runner-up finish marks only the fourth time in school history the Bulldogs have taken second place at the conference championship meet, the first time since 2012. The Bulldogs were selected to finish eighth in the in the SEC preseason poll, today’s finish outperforms the preseason coaches’ poll prediction by six places. In addition to their historic finish, Georgia tallied 123 points, registering ranked wins over No. 29 Oklahoma (126), No. 22 Missouri (145) and No. 26 Ole Miss (190).
Junior Ryan Olree led the Bulldogs for the fourth time this season, finishing ninth at 23:34.4, marking the best individual finish by a Bulldog since 2013. His efforts earned him Second-Team All-SEC honors and helped lead all five Georgia scorers within the top-60.
Finishing second for the Bulldogs was graduate transfer Will Aitken, who took 13th at 23:40.32 to secure Second-Team All-SEC honors. Following closely behind was graduate transfer Matias Reynaga earning Third-Team All-SEC honors in 16th with a career-best 23:43.05.
Other Bulldogs running on Friday were junior Conner Rutherford (29th, 24:09.46), graduate transfer Oliver Smart (57th, 24:39.42) and freshman Kristers Kudlis (73rd, 25:06.47).
“I’m really pleased with how we did,” said head coach Adam Tribble. “I mean we got six warriors here, and they came out here and we had some really great efforts. We had to control the things that we can control, and they really did. They ran really tough, came away second place today, just really proud of the efforts that they put in and how they’ve just really embraced each other and really did a great job of taking everything to a whole other level this year.”
On the women’s side, the Lady Bulldogs finished with 388 points in 15th. Freshman Anastasia Nilsson led the way for the third meet in row, crossing the line at 20:51.61 in 30th. Following close behind was sophomore Izzy Yonas in 40th at 21:04.30.
Other Lady Bulldogs running in the championship 6K were freshmen Lauren Skeens (121st, 22:50.54), Madeleine Holland (138th, 23:39.67), Erin Musty (141st, 23:48.00) and Maeve Waddell (142nd, 23:50.90).
“I’m pleased, we moved up a lot, I think especially both Anastasia and Izzy, those were big efforts, and I’m just proud of the way that the ladies came out and competed,” said Coach Tribble. “I’m excited for what’s to come.”
Georgia now looks ahead to the NCAA South Regional in Huntsville, Ala. on Fri., Nov. 14th, where both teams will race for a chance to compete in the 2025 NCAA Championships.
Results and recaps from the Bulldogs’ cross country season will be found at georgiadogs.com. News and updates from Georgia’s track and field and cross country teams are always located on X/Instagram at @UGATrack.
Men’s Individual Results
9. Ryan Olree – 23:34.43
13. Will Aitken – 23:40.32
16. Matias Reynaga – 23:43.05 – PR
29. Conner Rutherford – 24:09.46
57. Oliver Smart – 24:39.42
73. Kristers Kudlis – 25:06.47
Women’s Individual Results
30. Anastasia Nilsson – 20:51.61
40. Izzy Yonas – 21:04.30
121. Lauren Skeens – 22:50.54
138. Madeleine Holland – 23:39.67
141. Erin Musty – 23:48.00
142. Maeve Waddell – 23:50.90
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