MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Southern States Athletic Conference announced the 2026 SSAC men’s cross country award winners at the conclusion of the championship Saturday.
 
Runner of the Year: Cooper Osmus, Mobile
Coach of the Year: Justin Watson, UT Southern
Newcomer of the Year: Spencer Head, UT Southern
Freshman of the Year: Cooper Osmus, Mobile
Sportsmanship Award: Thomas
 
Osmus won the individual title with a time of 24:50.7, which is the fourth-best time in SSAC championship history, while Head finished as the runner-up at 25:03.2. Watson guided the Firehawks to the championship and has the team ranked seventh in the NAIA rankings. 
 
First-Team All-Conference
Cooper Osmus, Mobile
Spencer Head, UT Southern
Frank Kipruto, UT Southern
Nathan Jones, Mobile
Bruno Villazon, UT Southern
Jacob Kennedy, Loyola
Martin Van Hamme, UT Southern
 
Second-Team All-Conference
Jace Luckoski, Loyola
Dylan Brown, Loyola
Jonah Barnhardt, Blue Mountain
William Givens, Mobile
Joe Stevens, Mobile
Luke Skinner, William Carey
Peter Eckhoff, Mobile
Amon Rotich, UT Southern
 
All-Freshman Team
Cooper Osmus, Mobile
Nathan Jones, Mobile
Davide Ambruschi, UT Southern
Mark Boatwright, Mobile
Mattia Guidi, UT Southern
 
Athletic Solutions All-Academic Team
Dylan Fletcher, Brewton-Parker Christian
Jonah Galli, Brewton-Parker Christian
Stephen Sirmans, Brewton-Parker Christian
Luca Neumeister, UT Southern
Amon Rotich, UT Southern
Cameron Stovall, UT Southern
Martin Van Hamme, UT Southern
Jaheene Bell, Xavier
Ovane Williams, Xavier
Cole Charles, Faulkner
Creed Spivey, Faulkner
Jonah Barnhardt, Blue Mountain
Lelan Boulden, Blue Mountain
JT Draper, Blue Mountain
Lukas Dykes, Blue Mountain
Braxton Enzor, Blue Mountain
Erick Flores, Blue Mountain
Nelson Lopez, Thomas
Fabian Jeune, Thomas
Jeremiah Speights, Thomas
Jace Luckoski, Loyola
Jacob Mullis, Loyola
Cole Savoy, Loyola
Joseph Medina, Loyola
Mason Mack, Loyola
Carter Dural, Loyola
Andrew Thames, Mobile
Johnathan Turner, Mobile
Peter Eckhoff, Mobile
William Givens, Mobile
Joseph Stevens, Mobile
Nate Beard, William Carey
Julius Giller, William Carey
Matthew McGuire, William Carey
Niklas Moilanen, William Carey
Luke Skinner, William Carey
 
Champions of Character Team
Gambler Dollar, ABAC
Javien Butts, Andrew
Braxton Enzor, Blue Mountain
Noah Mordarski, Brewton-Parker
Creed Spivey, Faulkner
Aubrey Gibson, Loyola
Joe Stevens, Mobile
Fabian Jeune, Thomas
Spencer Head, UT Southern
Matthew McGuire, William Carey
Benjamin Ford, Xavier