COLUMBIA, Ky. – John-Paul Williamson raced to a first-place finish and the Lindsey Wilson men's cross country team finished fourth-of-eight at the Mid-South Conference Cross Country Championships in Bowling Green, Ky. on Saturday.

Williamson out-kicked Brett Pierce of Campbellsville (Ky.) in the last 200 meters to cross the line first with a time of 25:43.5 to secure the win over Pierce, who finished in 25:44:5. With the win, Williamson is the MSC Runner of the Year for the first time, and earns first-team all conference honors for the third-straight year. Williamson, who is now tied with David Mutuse for the all-time lead in career wins at Lindsey Wilson with six, also earned an automatic qualifier to the NAIA Cross Country Championship on Nov. 21 in Charlotte, N.C.

The next Blue Raider to cross the line was Austin Childress, who completed the 8k course at Phil Moore Park in 26:52.7 to finish in 11th place. Childress earns second-team all conference honors for the first time in his career.

Childress was followed by Zack Carr, who finished in 22nd with a time of 27:40.0, and Clay Priddy, who finished in 33rd with a time of 28:32.13. Marcus Terrell finished off the scoring for Lindsey Wilson by finishing in 34th place with a time of 28:43.4.

Lindsey Wilson's sixth and seventh runners were Ben Hoffman, who ran 29:02.7 to finish 40th, and Cody Hymer, who crossed the line in 29:10.5 to finish in 45th.

The Blue Raiders scored 94 points and were the final team under 100 points.

Campbellsville placed three runners in the top-four and four runners in the top-10 finishers to win the MSC team title with a total of 37 points, which was six points ahead of second-place Shawnee State (Ohio), who finished with 43 points. The Tigers earned the automatic team qualifier for the national championships.

Williamson now heads to the NAIA Cross Country Championships at McAlpine Creek Park in Charlotte, N.C., on Nov. 21.