Photo by: Ryan Barnett / SMC Athletics
MXC | Saint Mary's Junior Divan Du Plooy to Compete in World Athletics Cross Country Championships for Home Nation of Namibia
1/8/2026 1:00:00 PM | Men's Cross Country
MORAGA, Calif. — After a strong collegiate cross country season, Saint Mary's junior Divan Du Plooy is headed to the World Athletics Cross Country Championships to represent his home country of Namibia.
Du Plooy finished the 2025 cross country season on a high note at both the West Coast Conference Championships and the NCAA West Regionals. At the WCC Championships, the junior finished his 8k in 23:42.8 and earned ninth place overall. His top-10 finish marked the first time a Saint Mary's runner received the title of First Team All-WCC honors since 2016 and helped the Gaels to earn fourth place overall, the second-best finish in program history. He followed that up at the West Regionals by finishing in the top-50, helping the Gaels to their best finish since 2021.
The World Athletics Cross Country Championships will take place in Tallahassee, Florida, on Saturday, January 10th at the course at Apalachee Regional Park. Du Plooy is the first Saint Mary's runner to compete at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships. The race will begin at 12:20 PM local time / 9:20 AM pacific time. Click here for race streaming information.
#GaelsRise
Du Plooy finished the 2025 cross country season on a high note at both the West Coast Conference Championships and the NCAA West Regionals. At the WCC Championships, the junior finished his 8k in 23:42.8 and earned ninth place overall. His top-10 finish marked the first time a Saint Mary's runner received the title of First Team All-WCC honors since 2016 and helped the Gaels to earn fourth place overall, the second-best finish in program history. He followed that up at the West Regionals by finishing in the top-50, helping the Gaels to their best finish since 2021.
The World Athletics Cross Country Championships will take place in Tallahassee, Florida, on Saturday, January 10th at the course at Apalachee Regional Park. Du Plooy is the first Saint Mary's runner to compete at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships. The race will begin at 12:20 PM local time / 9:20 AM pacific time. Click here for race streaming information.
#GaelsRise
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Cross Country
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