COLLEGIATE BESTS
5K | 16:21.90 | Sept. 6, 2024 | UNCW Beach Blast
6K | 19:12.50 | Sept. 1, 2023 | Elon XC Opener
8K | 25:45.20 | Oct. 14, 2023 | Pirate Cross Country Invitational
2024 (Junior): Competed in three races ... Set personal best of 16 minutes, 21.9 seconds to finish ninth at the UNCW Beach Blast 5K (Sept. 6) ... Finished 69th at the CAA Cross Country Championship 8K (Nov. 1).
2023 (Sophomore): Appeared in all five races ... Finished 12th with a time of 27 minutes, 18.8 seconds at Chanticleer Challenge 8K (Sept. 29) ... Placed 65th at CAA Cross Country Championship 8K (Oct. 27).
2022 (Freshman): Competed in all five races for the cross country team in rookie season ... Led team in four of five races ... Made collegiate debut at Elon XC Opener (Sept. 2) and placed 23rd out of 59 runners with a time of 19 minutes, 52 seconds in the 6K ... Finished 59th at CAA Cross County Championships (Oct. 28).
High School: Ran two years for Coach Rick Spencer and Warriors ... Member of 4x800-meter relay 3A state championship team in 2021.
Personal: Samuel Stevens Bland ... Born in Chicago, Ill. ... Son of Eric and Melanie Bland ... Majoring in biology and chemistry.
2025 Results
19:27.40, 32nd, Elon XC Opener 6K
2024 Results
16:21.90, 9th, UNCW Beach Blast 5K
20:18.10, 113th, adidas XC Challenge 6K
27:59.90, 69th, CAA Cross Country Championship 8K
2023 Results
19:12.50, 51st, Elon XC Opener 6K
DNF, UNCW Beach Blast 5K
27:18.80, 12th, Chanticleer Challenge 8K
25:45.20, 35th, Pirate Cross Country Invitational 8K
27:34.20, 65th, CAA Cross Country Championship 8K
2022 Results
19:52.80, 23rd, Elon XC Opener 6K
15:44.05, 5th, UNCW Beach Blast 5K
19:27.80, 51st, Adidas XC Challenge 6K
26:15.70, 29th, ECU Pirate Invitational 8K
27:44.10, 59th, CAA Cross Country Championship 8K
