CLINTON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College cross country teams return to action Saturday, Nov. 5 as they compete in the NCAA Division II South Region Championships. The South Region Championships will be run at the Abbey Course at Saint Leo University.
 
The Lady Choctaws were tabbed eighth in the last United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) NCAA Division II Regional Cross Country South Region Rankings.
 
The poll marks the second time this season the Lady Choctaws have been ranked by the USTFCCCA this season. MC is one of seven teams from the Gulf South Conference in the top 10 ranking.
 
"This is our first year to be competing in the NCAA Division II South Region Championships and we are excited to see where we rank against the best teams in the region," said head coach Butch Ard. Our women's team comes into the meet ranked eighth in the region and our men are currently not ranked in the top 10. Both teams have been pretty solid all year, and we hope to finish the meet higher than our ranking."
 
Both squads finished sixth at the Gulf South Conference Championships earning their bids to the regional. Ryan Campbell (Coldwater, Miss.) and Kaleigh Akers (Daphne, Ala.) earned All-GSC honors as they led their teams.
 
Campbell earned First Team All-GSC honors as posted a time of 25:37.33 in the 8K race to finish seventh place. Akers posted a time of 19:07.02 in the 5K race to finish 11th place, which garnered her Second Team All-GSC accolades. The top 10 runners based on time were awarded first team honors with 11-20 named second team.
 
The Lady Choctaws posted an average time of 19:45.81 with three runners posting times better than the average. Rachel Smith finished 29th in the event with a time of 19:40.73. Baylee Webb posted a time of 19:42.45 in 33rd.
 
Abbie Easter finished 40th with a time of 20:01.53 while Hannah Chamberlain was 47th with a time of 20:17.31. Keyana Boyd added a time of 20:35.56 in 52nd while Madeline Sawaya rounded out the Lady Choctaw runners with a 21:18.95 in 69th.
 
The Choctaws posted an average time of 26:35.83 with three runners posting times better than the average. Will Young finished 22nd with a time of 26:27.18 with Sam Darnall one spot back with a 26:29.35.
 
Ryan Crandall finished 32nd with a time of 26:56.15. Alex Gipson added a time of 27:29.12 in 52nd followed by Daniel Burnett two spots behind with a 27:39.95. Nekenbe Fleming wrapped up the Choctaw runners in 60th with a 27:55.89.
 
Both squads look to advance to the NCAA National Championships in Saint Leo, Fla., on Saturday, Nov. 19.