TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (October 18, 2024) – The University of North Alabama cross country teams ran in the Crimson Classic in Tuscaloosa, Ala. on Friday, as freshman Brian Bett ran a 23:35.2 to finish sixth among a group of 152 participants.
 
Bett has broken a record each race he has ran this season, including the four-mile and the 8K record three times. He was nine seconds shy of the record at Harry Pritchett Running Park on Friday.
  
In the Gans Creek Classic, Bett finished in 12th place with a 23:26.4 which reset his 8k record from the week before which shattered the record by 36 seconds. During this, he won back-to-back-to-back weeks' worth of ASUN Runner and Freshman of the Week awards.

The men's side finished in the eighth slot out of 14 competing teams, where five men finished inside the top-115. At the top of the board, Alabama had the top two runners in Dennis Kipruto and Victor Kiprop; North Alabama competed with these same runners in the Southern Showcase in Huntsville, Ala. earlier this season.

Alabama wins its home race with SEC powers Missouri and Tennessee rounding out the top-three. Atlantic Sun Conference foe North Florida finished at the fourth position. North Alabama finished above schools such as Memphis, Samford and South Alabama, among others. UNA outran the ninth spot by 15 points to cushion themselves above Louisiana-Monroe. 

After Bett, sophomore Vincent Chepkwony finished with a time of 24:08.6  to secure 23rd place; this is a new PR by nearly 36 seconds. Sophomore Rogan Hanson adds to the list of PRs with a time of 27:00 flat which secures it by a minute and four seconds.
 
Bett was in a pack that included runners from Missouri, Tennessee and former ASUN member Kennesaw State before he broke away to best Clemson's Sawyer Dagan and Missouri's Ryder James by just over a second.
 
The women's division saw 189 finishing times, over 30 contestants higher than the men. The field expanded by four teams for the women, as well. Three Lions found their way into the top-130 competitors. Laura Mobley carried the day with an 21:59.4 time in the 6K, which was good for the 104th slot. This time is good for a new PR for Mobley by nearly 40 seconds.

Senior Aaliyah Charo had a career-best time with 23:04.0 which is good by over a minute and 20 seconds. Sophomore Camille Etheridge finished with a new PR as she runs a 23:39.1. Add in freshman to that total with a 24:16.5 time which secures it by 16 seconds. Freshman Mary Anna Trimble debuted in her first 6K with a 25:32.1 time.
 
The women finished 16th with 479 total points which bests Memphis by 44 points. The field was headlined by Alabama, Missouri and South Carolina in the top-three. ASUN foe North Florida placed 11th.

"The women were able to improve in areas we needed to improve on," head coach Connor Callahan said. "They continued to get stronger as the race went. The men had some ups and downs in the race. It was a tough course for them, but we have some time to get back to full strength and run well at conference. Our focus is now on conference and making improvements on last year's finish."

The Lions finalized the regular season in Tuscaloosa and look forward to the ASUN Championship in Jacksonville, Fla. at Cecil Field on Friday, Nov. 1. Last season, both Lion programs finished ninth in the ASUN Championship race.

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