LAKELAND, Fla. — The Mississippi College men's and women's cross country teams will compete at the 2025 NCAA Division II South Regional Championships on Saturday at Holloway Park, hosted by Florida Southern College. The women's 6K is set for 6:40 a.m. CST (7:40 a.m. EST), followed by the men's 10K at 7:55 a.m. CST (8:55 a.m. EST).
The top three teams in each race, along with the next three individual finishers not on qualifying teams, will advance to the NCAA Division II National Championships.
Women Ranked No. 2 in South, Coming Off Historic GSC Title
Mississippi College enters the weekend as the No. 2-ranked women's team in the South Region and fresh off its first-ever Gulf South Conference championship. Seniors Lauren Wallace, Bre Bell and Taylor Benoit lead a veteran lineup that also includes sophomores Kinley Harris and Kate Finch, along with freshmen Audrey Mayatte and Catherine Wallace.
Benoit was an NCAA qualifier last season, advancing as an individual and finishing 87th at the national meet.
The Lady Choctaws last raced at Holloway Park in 2022, finishing fifth at the regional meet.
Men Ranked No. 5 in Region, Looking to Return to Nationals
The Choctaw men come in ranked No. 5 in the South Region. Senior Christian Balcer and senior Cooper Parmer headline the roster alongside freshman Caleb Whipp, juniors Matthew Singletary and Baxter Friedman, and sophomore Sidney Stegall.
Mississippi College finished third at the 2024 South Regional last season to earn a team berth to the NCAA Championships, marking the fourth straight year the program has qualified a men's or women's team to nationals. MC will now look to extend that streak to five consecutive seasons.
The Choctaws also posted a runner-up finish the last time they raced at Holloway Park in 2022, highlighted by Jan Lukas Becker's individual title that secured an automatic team berth to nationals.
Coach's Outlook
Head coach Joe Snyder said both teams arrive in Lakeland confident and prepared for championship-caliber racing.
"Our athletes have put in the work all year, and we feel like we're peaking at the right time," Snyder said. "The women carry great momentum from the conference meet, and the men have really sharpened these last two weeks. We know what's at stake, but we're focused on running our race, competing with composure, and leaving no doubt when we cross the line."
What's at Stake
Both MC squads are positioned to contend for one of the three automatic qualifying bids.
Saturday will determine whether the Choctaws continue their streak of sending at least one team to the NCAA Championships for a fifth straight year.
