PREVIEW: Lakehawk Cross Country at NJCAA Championships

FORT DODGE, Iowa (Cross Country) – The Lake-Sumter State College (LSSC) cross country teams travel to Iowa this week for the 2025 National Junior College Athletics Association (NJCAA) Division II Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships. The Lakehawks will race on Saturday, Nov. 8; the women's 5K comes first at 9:30 a.m. followed by the men's 8K at 10:30 a.m.

Sophomore Spencer Palmer has led the men's team for both of his seasons as a Lakehawk.

His fourth place finish at the regional race and newest personal record (PR) of 26:27.2 ranks third in the Lakehawk record book, less than a minute off of the program record set in 2022 by Colton Berquist.

On the women's side, sophomore Oksanna Smith has also had a standout career as a Lakehawk. Her most recent PR of 20:58.6 ranks fourth in the women's record book, less than a minute off of Kyja Williams' program record set in 2021.

Both teams enter this year's championship nationally ranked, the first time since 2021 both squads have made an appearance in the polls; the men rank No. 14 while the women sit at No. 25. They hope to carry the momentum from this season's success into Saturday's final race.

Visit the NJCAA championship page for more information regarding this year's championship including live results and the photo gallery here.

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