TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (October 17, 2025) – The University of North Alabama cross country teams competed in the Crimson Classic hosted by the University of Alabama on Friday morning, marking their second consecutive appearance at the event.
 
Sophomore Brian Bett led the men's team with a ninth-place finish, clocking a time of 23:59.9 against a field that included Alabama, Auburn and Clemson. The performance helped guide the Lions to a 10th-place team finish — their third top-half finish of the regular season.
 
Bett's time ranks as the fifth-fastest in program history, following his 23:49.9 at the Gans Creek Classic last week. The Kenyan native already owned the top five times in UNA history and now adds a sixth to the list.

Bett was also the highest Atlantic Sun finisher in the race – two North Florida Ospreys placed in 13th and 14th.

While labeled a 6K, the women's race at the Crimson Classic measured closer to 5.8 kilometers. Maiyo led the Lions with a time of 20:49.8 — potentially a record-breaking performance if the distance had matched a full 6K.
 
The men finished 10th out of 20 teams, competing against programs such as Alabama, Clemson, Vanderbilt and Georgia Tech.
The men accumulated 297 points, good enough to beat out the likes of Auburn, Miami (Fla.), Troy and South Florida. The men placed four runners inside the top 100 of the field.

The Lions were as high as fifth as a team through the 2000m mark. By the 4000m mark, Bett made it as high as fourth before his ninth place finish.

Chepkwony was UNA's second finisher, placing 50th with a time of 25:20.9. Junior Aidan Shannon ran a 25:48.2 for 86th for the third UNA runner to cross. Freshman Jack Gruber finished with a 25:55.8 at 93rd to help best the ASUN foe in Central Arkansas.

Sammy Sang rounded out the scoring five with a 119th place finish in 26:20.1. Brent Lyons finished eight spots behind Sang in 26:33.7.
 
Owen Otto (26:40.6), Cole Smith (27:00.4), Jackson Hamlin (27:09.2), Thomas Sheek (28:00.4) and Andrew White (28:48.9) all moved up at least one spot in the final leg of the race; Otto earned a new personal record. Zach Bassham closed out the group with his 30:43.6.
 
The women scored 560 points, finishing 21st overall — 65 points ahead of Troy.
 
Maiyo made the headline, but Savannah Williams (23:56.9) continues to impress as she is becoming the consistent second finisher for the Lions. The junior moved up 12 spots in the final split.
 
Freshman Audrey Becker (24:21.8) jumped three spots in her final leg as Taylor Williams finished eight spots behind her with her 24:38.7. Traci Pettus (25:06.9) rounded out the scoring five, while Cambree Bradford (25:12.2) and Sophia Gentile (26:14.0) closed out the rest of the team.  
 
The meet concludes the regular season for UNA's cross country team. The Lions will next compete at the ASUN Championships at River City Nature Park in Jacksonville, Fla., on Friday, Oct. 31.

For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.