GENEVA, N.Y.—William Smith won the Cross Country Only Conference Championship for the third consecutive season at Seneca Lake State Park this morning. The Herons dominated the 19th edition of the race, putting six runners in the top 10 led by individual champion junior Hope Johnson.
 
Johnson covered the 6-kilometer course in 24:42.9, posting a comfortable 44-second victory over the runner-up, Clarkson's Alexandra Simon. Johnson is the fourth Heron to finish atop the podium at the CCOC Championships, joining Emily D'Addario '13 (2011, 2012), Sophie MacCracken '18 (2014) and Ainsley Woods '24 (2022, 2023).
 
With runners finishing first, third, fifth, sixth and eighth, William Smith posted a championship low score of 23. Clarkson was 12 points back in second place. Keuka secured the final podium spot besting fourth place SUNY Canton by six points. Paul Smith's also had runners in the race, but didn't have enough for a team score.
 
HERON HIGHLIGHTS

• Johnson, 1st, 24:42.9
• Bella Miller, 3rd, 25:54.6
• Rebecca Barr, 5th, 26:24.3
• Joan Reichert, 6th, 27:13.5
• Carden Costello, 8th, 27:35.9 (season's best time)
• Talya Peters, 9th, 28:04.2 (season's best time)

 
UP NEXT

• William Smith will race again in the Hamilton Short Course Tuneup on Saturday, Oct. 26.