The Bryan College men's and women's cross country teams took on some tough competition at the Southern Showcase, hosted by Jacksonville State University. Both teams put in strong individual efforts, gaining valuable experience against some of the top programs in the country.

Men's 8K Race:

The men's team, led by Zachary Sever, put forth a determined effort in a highly competitive field. Sever finished with a time of 26:51, placing 219th out of a packed field of runners that included some of the best athletes from various divisions. Freshman Tyler Dugan completed his first collegiate 8K, showcasing resilience in a challenging race environment.

Women's 5K Race:

The women's team was led by Carissa Wilson, who crossed the finish line in 21:20. Right behind her was senior Elena Irwin, who recorded a personal best of 21:40. Freshman Juliana Sneed made her collegiate debut in one of the biggest races in the country, gaining valuable experience. Kennedy Groves also had a standout performance, improving her personal best by an incredible 4 minutes and 2 seconds in the 5K.

Coaches Notes:

Coach Wilson expressed optimism, saying, "I saw a lot of positive notes that we need to take advantage of. We were racing really well together through the beginning and middle. We just have to learn and work on closing in the races. The team is coming out of a big training block, so their legs were a little heavy going in. Looking forward to our next race on Oct. 12th!." 

Looking Ahead:
The Lions will race again on October 12th in Chattanooga, TN for the NOOGA at NIGHT XC INVITE

Full race results: https://live.xpresstiming.com/meets/39958/events/xc/1500931