CLINTON, Miss. — Mississippi Christian cross country opened the 2026 season Friday night at Choctaw Trails, with the men's team claiming The Opener title and the Lady Choctaws finishing second.

The Choctaw men began the season with a strong showing, scoring 36 points to finish first in the 11-team field. ULM finished second with 59 points, while Mobile rounded out the top three with 98.

Baxter Friedman led the way for Mississippi Christian, finishing fourth overall in 15:30.5. Matthew Singletary followed closely behind, crossing the line fifth with a time of 15:31.5. The pair entered the season as Gulf South Conference Runners to Watch and immediately found themselves near the front of the field in their first race of the year.

Andrew Kilgore was the third Choctaw across the line, finishing eighth in 15:42.3. Tristan Bryan and Carson Smith rounded out the scoring five, finishing 10th and 11th with times of 15:44.2 and 15:47.9. Samuel Bryan followed in 12th at 15:48.3 as Mississippi Christian placed six runners inside the top 12.

On the women's side, the Lady Choctaws finished second in the 12-team field with 49 points. ULM took the team title with 29 points, while the MC Alumni team finished third with 62.

Catherine Wallace led Mississippi Christian with a third-place finish, crossing the line in 18:43.7. Audrey Mayatte joined Wallace inside the top five, finishing fourth overall in 18:58.9.

Kinley Harris finished 13th in 19:28.7, followed by Gabrielle Jeffery in 14th at 19:33.3 and Ava Wardlaw in 15th at 19:37.2 to complete the Lady Choctaws' scoring five. 

The season-opening performance gives Mississippi Christian lots of momentum as the team gears up for its first travel meet in Huntsville, Alabama on September 18th.