MAGNOLIA, Ark - This Saturday, October 26th, the Mulerider Men and Women's Cross Country teams are set to make their mark at the 2024 Great American Conference (GAC) Cross Country Championships, hosted by East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma. With the men's race kicking off at 8:30 a.m. followed by the women at 9:30 a.m., both squads are poised to deliver strong performances against a competitive field.
The Muleriders are coming off of an immense high with both teams securing top-three finishes at the Tiger Invite in Arkadelphia, Arkansas last weekend.
WOMEN's CROSS COUNTRY
At the 2023 GAC Championships held on October 21, the Mulerider women finished seventh in the league, scoring 225 points with a total time of 1:43:08 in the 5k. Leading the way was junior Logan Warren, with an impressive finish in 44th with a time of 19:39.7. She was joined by Ava Zindler in 69th (20:45.3), and senior Alyzah McGlasson in 75th (20:53.4). Cantley Gosdin made her championship debut by placing 87th with a time of 21:24.0
The Mulerider Women will see five freshmen make their debut in league's championship.
MEN's CROSS COUNTRY
On the men's side, the Muleriders finished sixth, scoring 170 points with a team time of 2:14.35 in the 8k. Wesley Maxwell led the pack, finishing 28th with a personal best time of 26:10.2. Charles Patton completed his first championship run in 47th with a time of 27:02.6. Brandon Escobar also contributed a solid performance, placing 57th with a time of 27:33.7.
The Mulerider Men are set to watch eight newcomers to the conference championship.
The championship will feature a total of eight men's teams and 12 women's teams, making for a highly competitive field. Following the races, an awards presentation at 10:30 a.m. will recognize the top performers, including team champions, individual medalists, and the prestigious All-GAC squads.
With the momentum of last year's results and a commitment to improvement, the Muleriders are ready to take on the challenge. Fans and supporters are encouraged to cheer on the teams as they strive for their best performances yet at the GAC Championships.
