CLINTON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College men's and women's cross country teams return to action on Saturday, Oct. 22 as they compete in the 2016 Gulf South Conference Championships, hosted by the University of Alabama-Huntsville. The Championships will be held at Sharon Johnston Park.
 
MC is eligible to compete for the GSC title for the first time since returning to Division II this weekend.
 
"We are excited about this being our first, countable Gulf South Conference Championship. We have competed the last three years in the meet, but weren't allowed to score or receive honors," said head coach Butch Ard. "We are hoping to do well in the meet, and hopefully finish in the top half of scoring in the team division. We are also hoping to score well enough to take our teams to the South Region meet in Tampa in two weeks."
 
The Choctaws won the non-Division I division at the Choctaw Open on Saturday, Oct. 15 at Choctaw Trails. Will Young and Sam Darnall placed in the top 10 of the division to lead MC. Young finished fifth with a time of 27:25.28 while Darnall placed seventh with a time of 27:49.56. Nekenbe Fleming finished just outside the top 10 with a time of 28:008.00 which placed him in 12th place. Alex Gipson finished 28th with a time of 29:05.85 while Christian Paz was two spots back with time of 29:07.61 Daniel Ray rounded out the Choctaw runners with a 31:29.78 which placed him in 49th.
 
The Lady Choctaws finished fourth in the non-Division I division of the Choctaw Open at Choctaw Trails. Rachel Smith led the Navy and Gold with a time of 19:57.20 which place her in 14th. Abbie Easter finished in 21st for MC with a time of 20:19.70 while Hannah Chamberlain was two spots back with a time of 20:26.20. Baylee Webb also finished in the top 30 with a time of 20:33.50 in 26th. Keyana Boyd placed 34th with a time of 21:04.00 with Madeline Sawaya in 39th with a time of 21:29.40. Madison Moser rounded out the MC runners with a time of 21:43.20 in 41st.
 
Each of the race's top ten finishers, based on time, are automatically named members of the All-GSC First Team, while the 11-20 finishers earn All-GSC Second Team honors. Awards will presented at the conclusion of the meet and include team championship trophies, GSC Individual Medalist (the overall best time) and GSC Freshman of the Year (the top true freshman time).