LEXINGTON, Va. — The Old Dominion Athletic Conference announced its 2025 major awards for men's cross country on Tuesday, and Washington and Lee head coach Brandon Spalding was voted ODAC Coach of the Year after guiding the Generals to one of the most successful seasons in program history.
Spalding, now in his 13th year at the helm, led W&L to both the ODAC Championship and the NCAA South Region title, marking the program's second regional crown and first since 1995. His squad heads into the final week of the postseasn with five All-ODAC performers and six All-Region honorees, tying a program record for regional awards.
Spalding's season leading the Generals has been defined by depth and consistency. W&L placed inside the top five in six invitationals, including third-place efforts at the Virginia Tech Invitational and the NCAA DIII National Preview, a fourth-place performance at the Paul Short Run, and a perfect 15-point sweep at the Hornet Harrier. The team closed the regular season with a third-place result at the Roanoke South Region Showdown before dominating the postseason's conference and regional meets.
At the ODAC Championships, W&L reclaimed the league title with 27 points, powered by a 1–2 finish at the front and five scorers inside the top 11. The momentum carried into the NCAA South Region Championships, where the Generals placed six runners inside the top 35 on the way to a 39-point team title.
In addition to the Coach of the Year Award, W&L also tallied the Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors as announced by the league on Nov. 1 at the championships. Senior captain
Keaton Rush earned the ODAC's top academic honor for the second consecutive cross country season recognizing his excellence in both competition and the classroom. A senior leader and reliable scorer, the Economics and Accounting double major placed fifth at the ODAC Championships and added a fourth-place regional performance to help secure both postseason team titles.
Up Next: No. 17 Washington and Lee will return to championship action on Saturday at the 2025 NCAA Division III Championships on Nov. 22, Spartanburg, S.C. at Roger Milliken Center.
All-ODAC Major Awards
- Runner of the Year: Alex Jordan LYN
- Coach of the Year: Brandon Spalding, WLU
- Rookie of the Year: Nathaniel Orban, RC
- ODAC/VAFB Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Keaton Rush, WLU
All-ODAC Awards
All-Region Awards
Nestled in the mountains of Virginia, Washington and Lee University is a proud member of NCAA Division III and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Founded in 1749, W&L is the ninth-oldest college in the United States and a top-ranked liberal arts university. With over 500 student-athletes in 24 varsity sports, the Generals have celebrated over 265 conference championships. Learn more about the Blue and White by visiting www.generalssports.com or on social media at @WLUGenerals.
