Inman’s Ryan Hunter caps breakthrough season with historic Nationals appearance for SMC
By Melissa Rhine, Spartan Weekly News staff writer
Spartanburg Methodist College junior Ryan Hunter ended a standout 2025 cross country season with a historic showing at the NAIA Cross Country Championships on Nov. 21, becoming the first male student-athlete in SMC history to compete on the national stage.
Hunter, an Inman, S.C., native, finished 72nd overall in 25 minutes, 37.2 seconds on the challenging 8K course at Apalachee Regional Park. His steady climb through the field reflected the mindset that defined his season—confidence built on consistency, hard work and belief in the community behind him.
“This season has meant a lot to me,” Hunter said. “I’ve put in hard work every single day, and qualifying for and competing at the NAIA Cross Country Championships showed that all that effort was worth it. The Nationals trip was one of the best moments of my life, and sharing it with my coaches and parents made it even more special.”
During the championship race, Hunter said he drew strength from thinking about the people who supported him from the beginning. “I was thinking about my parents, girlfriend Zahaira, coaches, friends and teammates,” he said. “I knew that even if I fell short, they would still be proud of me and the season I had. Every time I passed someone, I felt stronger and more confident.”
His appearance at nationals marked a significant milestone for the Pioneers, especially in their first year competing in the Appalachian Athletic Conference. Hunter said representing SMC during such a transitional moment felt meaningful not just for himself but for the entire program.
“It felt great to represent Spartanburg Methodist at the NAIA Championships, and it being our first year in the AAC made it even more meaningful,” he said. “It feels good to show that we belong and that we’re ready to compete at a high level across all sports. It also felt great to represent my coaches, Coach MJ and Coach Maxwell, in their first seasons of being head coach and assistant coach at nationals. They have given the team a good program that has set us up for success.”
Hunter’s journey to the championship started years earlier at Chapman High School, where he first discovered the potential that would carry him to SMC. Representing his hometown, he said, is “one of the biggest honors.”
“My coaches at Chapman played a huge role in helping me get recruited to compete at the collegiate level,” he said. “I hope my journey can inspire younger athletes from Inman to believe in themselves and their community.”
On the track, Hunter has posted personal records across events ranging from the 800 meters to the steeplechase, but the 8K has taken on new meaning. “It has given me opportunities I never would have had otherwise,” he said. “The mile also holds a special place in my heart because it was the event that got me recruited to Spartanburg Methodist.”
Looking ahead, Hunter’s goals reflect the same upward trajectory. “I plan on breaking multiple school records and going back to nationals,” he said. “My senior year, I want to leave a legacy that shows what’s possible when you give something your all.”
Throughout his time at SMC, Hunter’s biggest inspiration has come from home.
“My parents and girlfriend Zahaira have inspired and supported me every day,” he said. He credits his father George’s recovery after a stroke and his mother Candice’s resilience as daily motivators. “Neither one of them has given up… Their hard work has inspired me to work hard at everything I do.”
With determination shaped by family, coaches and community, Hunter’s historic run signals not just the close of a remarkable season, but the start of an even brighter future—both for him and for Spartanburg Methodist College.