Cross Country Lands on the Podium at OVC Conference Championship Friday - Southeast Missouri State University Athletics

Friday, October 30

Cape Girardeau, Mo.

9 a.m.

Southeast Missouri State University

OVC Championships

Cade McCadams finishing at OVC Conference Championships

Photo by: SEMO Creative Media

10/30/2026 12:37:00 PM | Cross Country

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - The Southeast Missouri State Cross Country team hosted and competed in the 2026 OVC Cross Country Conference Championships on Friday morning in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Overall, the women's team placed second, and the men placed third in the meet against seven other teams.

Women's Race
Nova Ojutkangas finished first for the women's team, placing sixth overall with a time of 21:40.3. Behind her, Daphne Bishop finished in eighth place with a time of 21:42.40. The last three scorers were Lauren Eftink (14^th, 21:48.4), Jocelyn Haynes (19^th, 22:04.7) and Brooklyn Bender (21^st, 22:06.7).
Other finishers for the women include Claire Horstmann (31^st, 22:46.3), Peyton Schieppe (34^th, 21:51.2), Mattea Pearsall (46^th, 23:31.3), Aleah Box (51^st, 23:45.1), and Julia Martinez Dura (59^th, 24:17.8).
The winner of the women's race is Shelby Lamb, of Morehead State, in first place with a time of 20:36.8. Second place is Ellie Hall, of Southern Indiana, (21:26.6), and third is Sierra Parks, of Southern Indiana, (21:32.3).
Men's Race
James House finished first for the men, placing 13^th overall with a time of 24:53.5. Finishing second for the team was Myles Thornburg in 17^th place at 25:14.9. The last three scorers for the men include Drew Upperman (19^th, 25:23.7), Lincoln Crews (20^th, 25:27.7), and Evan Fuller (26^th, 25:48.2).
Other finishers for the men include Cade McCadams (31^st, 26:01.7), Carson Koerber (32^nd, 26:03.5), Trey Mygatt (56^th, 28:04.9), Connor Soendker (57^th, 28:07.5), and Alex Bequette (68^th, 29:46.1)
The winner of the men's race is Alex Nolan, of Southern Indiana, in first place with a time of 24:05.4. Second place is Jackson Nolan, of Southern Indiana, with a time of 24:10.7. Third place is Aiden Massey, of Morehead State, with a time of 24:14.5.

Women's Individual Awards
2026 OVC Female Freshman of the Year – Karson Oberender (Western Illinois)
2026 OVC Female Athlete of the Year – Ellie Hall (Southern Indiana)
2026 All Conference Second Team – Lauren Eftink (SEMO, 14^th), Zoe Seward (USI, 13^th) Kara Odum (USI, 12^th), Karson Oberender (WIU, 11^th), Lydia Bennett (WIU, 10^th), Emma-Kate Watt (WIU, 9^th), and Daphne Bishop (SEMO, 8^th)
2026 All Conference First Team – Reese Settle (UTM, 7^th), Nova Ojutkangas (SEMO, 6^th), Danielle Mudd (UTM, 5^th), Cordelia Hoover (USI, 4^th), Sierra Parks (USI, 3^rd), Ellie Hall (USI, 2^nd), and Shelby Lamb (WIU, 1^st).
Female Athlete of the Championship – Shelby Lamb of Western Illinois (1^st, 20:36.8)
2026 OVC Women's Coach of the Year – Mike Hillyard, Southern Indiana
Women's Team Awards
In third place with 84 total points is UT Martin. In second place, with a combined team score of 63 points, is Southeast Missouri State. And in first place, with a total team score of 34 points, is Southern Indiana.

Men's Individual Awards
2026 OVC Male Freshman of the Year – Drew Upperman (SEMO)
2026 OVC Male Athlete of the Year – Alex Nolan (Southern Indiana)
2026 All Conference Second Team – Will Douglas (UTM, 14^th), James House (SEMO, 13^th) Layden Wagoner (USI, 12^th), Keagan Enicks (UTM, 11^th), Chaz Oberkfell (USI, 10^th), Issac Ndiwa (Lindenwood, 9^th), and Landen Swiney (USI, 8^th)
2026 All Conference First Team – Carson Brown (USI, 7^th), Griffen Wheeler (USI, 6^th), Brayden Kloeppel (USI, 5^th), Agnus Monro (UTM, 4^th), Aiden Massey (Morehead, 3^rd), Jackson Nolan (USI, 2^nd), and Alex Nolan (USI, 1^st).
Male Athlete of the Championship – Alex Nolan of Southern Indiana (1^st, 24:05.4)
2026 OVC Men's Coach of the Year – Mike Hillyard, Southern Indiana
Men's Team Awards
In third place with 85 total points is Southeast Missouri State. In second place, with a combined team score of 80 points, is UT Martin. And in first place, with a total team score of 21 points, is Southern Indiana.

Next
The Redhawks will travel to Ames, Iowa, to compete in the NCAA Division 1 Midwest Regional Meet on November 13^th, 2026. The women will compete in the 6k race, with the men competing in the 10k.