COLUMBIA, Mo. (September 27, 2024) – The University of North Alabama cross country teams had to divert from the FSU Pre-Regional meet due to hurricane Helene to participate in the Gans Creek Classic in Columbia, Mo. on Friday Sept. 27. Brian Bett runs a 23:26.4 to finish 12th amongst a group of 320 participants.
This is the fourth meet this season for the Lions. This is the fourth week in a row that freshman Bett has broken a North Alabama record. The first week was the four-mile record while the previous two meets he set the school record for the men's 8k.
In the Southern Showcase, Bett finished in eighth place with a 24:02.36 which reset his 8k record from the week before. During this, he won back-to-back weeks' worth of ASUN Runner and Freshman of the Week awards. He broke his 8k record again at the Gans Creek Classic by a total of 36 seconds and was in first place during the 3000m portion.
After Bett, freshman Vincent Chepkwony finished with a time of 24:44 flat to secure the 120th place this is a new PR by 42.5 seconds. Senior Adam Nipper found a new PR for himself as well in this with a 25:16.3 run, his previous was 25:35.1. Sophomore transfer Aidan Shannon was another Lion that recorded a PR with a 26:10.2.
The men's side finished in the 27th slot out of 36 competing teams, where all men finished the race out of the qualifiers. At the top of the board, nationally ranked No. 10 Stanford had all five runners finish inside the top-13 with the first three finding the top-five.
Tennessee, Auburn, Missouri and Kentucky round out the top-five behind Stanford respectively. ASUN foes such as Lipscomb and North Florida finish inside the top-10. North Alabama finishes above power-five programs like Kansas State and Baylor while also besting ASUN opponent Central Arkansas. UNA beats out Kansas State by five points to secure the 27th spot.
The field was a tad tougher for the women's program with five top-30 nationally ranked teams with three inside the top-10. The women finished in 36th place out of 37 competing teams. 329 total women ran in the division for the 6k.
Five Lion's finished inside the top-290 with Gracie Mathews leading the way with a 22:30.8 time. Laura Mobley set a new personal record by nearly 30 seconds with a time of 22:38.8 on the day.
Senior Aaliyah Charo debuted in her first 6k in her career alongside sophomore Camille Etheridge who competed in her first 6k as well with a 24:10.9 time. Add in Taylor Williams and Sophia Gentile with debuts as well with a 25:41.8 and a 24:32.8 respectively.
"It was a great day to see the team compete at a high level," said head coach Connor Callahan. "We have made progress each week. Brian was able to stay on the mix with some of the top talent in the country. He continues to give our team the confidence and boost we need. The women had the chance to run a 6k for the first time this season. We will make some adjustments and prepare for the next race. I'm happy with the effort but I know the team finish doesn't show who we are."
After a wild week of change, the Lions head to Tuscaloosa, Ala. for the Crimson Classic hosted on Friday, Oct. 18 at Harry Pritchett Running Park by the University of Alabama Crimson Tide.
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