Pepperdine University Athletics

HONORS AND AWARDS:
WCC Commissioner’s Honor Roll (Bronze) — 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24
Pepperdine Scholar-Athlete — 2021-22, 2022-23

PEPPERDINE TRACK 2025 (SR): Competed in six meets as a senior ... Ran his season-best 5K time at the Bob Larsen Distance Carnival (3/21) ... Recorded his season-best time in the 1,500 meters at the Ben Brown Invitational/AstroAI Distance Classic (3/7-8) ... Made his season debut in the 3K at the Westmont Sunshine Open (2/8).

PEPPERDINE XC 2024 (SR): Competed in all six races in his final cross-country season at Pepperdine ... Ran his lifetime-best 6-kilometer time of 19:55.1 at the Waves Invite (8/30) ... Clocked his season-best 8-kilometer time of 26:32.1 at the WCC Championships (11/2) ... Was Pepperdine's fifth runner at the NCAA West Regional (11/15).

PEPPERDINE TRACK 2024 (JR): Competed at three outdoor track meets … Ran a 9:14.38 in the 3,000-meter run at the Sunshine Indoor Open (2/9-10).

PEPPERDINE XC 2023 (JR): Competed at all six races as a junior … Was Pepperdine’s fifth runner twice and the sixth runner once … Ran a 25:37.2 8-kilometer time at the UC Riverside Invitational to place fifth for Pepperdine (9/16) … Was Pepperdine’s fifth runner at the Bronco Invitational with a time of 25:12.5 (10/14) … Placed sixth for Pepperdine at the WCC Championships.

PEPPERDINE TRACK 2023 (SO): Competed in six out of the nine meets … Ran mainly the 1,500 meter, and also competed in the 5,000 and 3,000 meters, and the mile … Had a season-best of 4:06.2 in the 1,500 meter at the Vince O’Boyle Track and Field Classic (3/31).

PEPPERDINE XC 2022 (SO): Competed in all six meets … Had a personal-best 8K of 24:35.6 at the WCC Cross Country Championships (10/28).

PEPPERDINE TRACK 2022 (FR): Competed in seven of the 10 meets … Ran in the 1,500 meters once, 3,000 meters twice, the 5,000 meters three times and the 10,000 meters once … In the 1,500 meters, had a season-best of 4:02.68 at the Triton Invitational (4/9) … Had the team’s third-fastest time (9:21.45) in the 3,000 meters … Had a season best of 15:11.76 in the 5,000 meters at the Steve Scott Invitational (4/30) … Ran a season best of 31:15.55 in the 10,000 meters at the Bryan Clay Invitational, which put him fifth on the Waves’ all-time list.

PEPPERDINE XC 2021 (FR): Competed in two of the seven meets … Had a season-best 8K of 26:05.3 at the Mark Covert Classic (9/4).

HIGH SCHOOL: Placed 30th in the PIAA state championship as a senior, earning all-conference and all-region honors as both a junior and senior … Holds the cross country 5K school record … Named the Mid Penn 3200m champion as a senior … Earned the Charles R. Hartman Award for most outstanding male athlete … Earned Tim Cook Award … Team won the 2021 PIAA District 3 track and field championship and won four straight division championships from 2017-21.
 
PERSONAL: Majoring in economics ... Born in Shippensburg, Pa. … Son of Kirsten Harteis and Steven Spence … Has three siblings … Sister, Neely Gracey, is a professional runner who runs her own coaching business and won multiple national championships at Shippensburg University before turning pro … Father was a professional runner who now coaches at Shippensburg University and attended Shippensburg University, winning multiple championships in the 5000m … Chose Pepperdine for the academic and athletic environment.
 
FAVORITES: Hobbies include skating, biking, exploring new areas, and meeting new people … Sports hero is Lopez Lomong … Favorites include Cade Rush (pro athlete), On Athletics Club (pro sports team), Unbroken (book), Lords of Dogtown (movie), Hannibal (TV show), Little Pump (musical artist), sushi from Nobu (food) and biking (sport besides running) ... Favorite thing about running is the camaraderie and friendship built while running with teammates.