Benjamin Ford and Kamal Webb were among the athletes listed as SSAC Cross Country runners to watch for the 2026 season. 

Ford, a sophomore from Glen Allen, Virginia, was a revelation for the Gold Rush last season. He placed in the top 20 in the Red River Athletic Conference cross country meet and earned a silver in the outdoor 5,000-meter race. 

Webb, a sophomore from Baltimore, was another sterling freshman. He will make his debut as a cross-country runner, but Webb has already established himself as one of Coach Yhann Plummer's most versatile athletes.

He competed in numerous events in both outdoor and indoor track, eventually earning medals as both a sprinter and middle-distance runner, having run legs for both 4X400 and 4X800 relay teams. 

The complete watchlist is available here.