2024 NJCAA Cross Country & Half Marathon National Championship Results/Season Recap

Mechanicsville, VA - Pellissippi State Cross Country competed in the NJCAA National Championship Race on Saturday along side 40+ other Junior College schools from across the country. The race marked the end of the 2024 cross country season, one that has been highly successful for the Panthers.

"Competing in the national championship felt rewarding to our team, especially since we weren't able to participate last year with it being Pellissippi's inaugural athletic season." Coach Emily Roy said. "Our 1st year athletes and our returning runners have worked arduously this season, and it paid off in the post season with a region championship and a few all-conference runners on both teams."

On the men's side, the team placed 31st overall with a score of 787. The top finisher for the Panthers was Jamie Bell at 76th with a total time of 27:29.6 in the 8K. The rest of the men's team finished as follows: 

104th - Stephen Scallion (27:59.4)

211th - Sachairi Barnett (29:35.2)

245th - Casey Pribish (30:31.4)

271st - Bryce Winkler (31:46.3)

276th - Cooper Wood (31:53.8)

288th - Isaiah Spoon (32:59.3)

On the women's side, the team placed 36th overall with a score of 936. The top finisher for the Panthers was Chloe Hayes who also finished 76th with a total time of 20:47.1 in the 5K. The rest of the women's team finished as follows: 

142nd - Jocelyn Chipoco-DeGrado (21:51.5)

288th - Ava Steward (25:16.6)

294th - Brookelyn Housley (25:34.7)

310th - Janna Evans (29:00.1)

Coach Roy Continued;

"I think the experience gained from nationals will be valuable moving forward as we continue to build the program. Our veteran runners have shown the newer athletes what building a great base in the summer can do for their season performance, and that's invaluable for our future as a team as we continue to build. I'm thankful for the 2nd year athletes who have helped lay a great foundation of hard work and gotten Pelli to a solid start in the Cross Country program. Jamie Bell, Stephen Scallion, Jocelyn Chipoco-DeGrado, and Chloe Hayes have been standouts all season, and hopefully our team next year will follow suit."

In the Half Marathon, three Panthers competed, with two aheving their best times ever and one running their first ever half marathon. Jocelyn Chipoco-DeGrado finished 59th overall and achevied her new PR of 1:39:55.6. On the men's side, Sachairi Barnett and Casey Pribish ran and finished with times of 1:21:55.4 and 1:28:17.5 respectively. 

In a season full highs, the Panthers brought home the frist conference championships in school history with the men's and women's team winning the titles, and coach Emily Roy sweeping the men's and women's coach of the year awards. The team compiled 5 first place titles throughout the year and has established themselves as the state's premier cross country program. 

 "I'm proud of the goals the athletes set this year and the way they diligently and tirelessly followed through on their training to actualize those aspirations.  We look forward to the season to come and the way that the program will continue to progress."

Some pictures from the event can be found here: https://psccpanthers.com/sports/mxc/2024-25/photos/0002/index