HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Mississippi College cross country faced off against a field packed with nationally ranked Division I programs at the Southern Showcase, hosted by Jacksonville State, on Friday at the John Hunt Running Park.
On the men's side, Carson Smith led the Choctaws with a time of 24 minutes, 53.49 seconds over the 8k course, placing 70th overall in a race won by Alabama's Dismus Lokira (23:11.08)
Smith was followed closely by
Matthew Singletary (25:13.64),
Cooper Parmer (25:22.36),
Baxter Friedman (25:30.05), and
Colin Brannon (25:54.24).
Sidney Stegall (25:58.19) and
Caleb Whipp (26:33.62) rounded out the Choctaws' top seven.
The Mississippi College women were paced by Bre Bell, who crossed in 17:43.76 for 53rd overall in the loaded 5k field. She was followed by Lauren Wallace (17:55.76), Taylor Benoit (18:01.35), Kate Finch (18:33.19), Audrey Mayatte (18:39.08), Kinley Harris (18:53.71), and Gabrielle Jeffrey (19:10.06).
Alabama's Caren Kiplagat won the women's race in 16:18.76, while Kentucky, Mississippi State, Louisville, and Florida State all placed multiple runners in the top 20.
The meet served as an early-season test for the Choctaws, who raced against some of the nation's top talent across the SEC, ACC, and other Division I conferences.
Mississippi College returns to action later this week when it competes at the Rhodes Invitational on Sept. 20 at 8 a.m. in Memphis, Tenn.
