JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (October 31, 2024) – The University of North Alabama cross country programs head to Jacksonville, Fla. on Friday, Nov. 1 to compete in the 2024 ASUN Championship at Cecil Field. The women get started first with their 5K at 8:00 a.m. while the men follow behind with their 8K at 8:45 a.m.
The Lions are coming off two weeks of rest after the Crimson Classic finish on Oct. 18 in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Last season, the ASUN Championship was in Nashville, Tenn. North Alabama's cross-country teams both finished in ninth in the race.
"It's been our goal all season long to improve, and this is the race we've prepared for," said UNA head coach Connor Callahan. "The team has put in the work, and I believe we are ready for the moment. We have one chance to show the ASUN what we have, and our athletes are excited and ready to roll."
The Lions will be one of 12 teams to compete in the Championship. All ASUN teams include, Austin Peay, Bellarmine, Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky, Florida Gulf Coast, Jacksonville, Lipscomb, North Florida, Queens, Stetson and West Georgia.
Heading into conference championship weekend, a few of the ASUN teams are polling. In the Men's Southeast Region, Eastern Kentucky is ranked fifth behind the likes of Wake Forest, North Carolina, Virginia and Furman. EKU is 26th in the nation.
In the Men's South Region, Lipscomb slots in at fifth while North Florida settles into the ninth spot. This region features teams like Alabama, Tennessee and Florida State, among others.
The Women's South Region sees Lipscomb in the fourth spot behind Power Four members Alabama, Florida State and Florida. Lipscomb is polling at 25th in the nation. The South Central Region finds Central Arkansas in 11th, a region where Texas, LSU and Arkansas headline the field.
Last season, Eastern Kentucky's Taha Er Raouy won the individual crown for the men's division with a time of 24:05.9. This season,
Brian Bett has three meets where his times came under this mark. At the Southern Showcase, Bett finished with a 24:02.4, then set a new PR at the Gans Creek Classic at 23:26.4, and his most previous race was the Crimson Classic with a 23:35.2.
The women's race was headlined by then juniors
Gracie Mathews and
Janeth Jepkirui. Mathews finished in the 47th slot with a time of 18:45.1 and Jepkirui came in at 51st with a 19:00.8. Mathews personal best is an 18:06.0 time, while Jepkirui holds an 18:00 flat that came in the 2022 ASUN Championship race.
After the ASUN Championships, the Lions head to the 2024 NCAA South Regional in Tallahassee, Fla. at Apalachee Regional Park Friday, Nov. 15. The Lions were originally scheduled to compete at the FSU Pre-Regional Meet on this very course, but the meet was canceled due to inclement weather.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
