COLUMBIA, Mo. (September 26, 2025) – The University of North Alabama cross country teams competed in the Gans Creek Classic hosted by the University of Missouri on Friday morning for the second consecutive season.

Transfer Sandra Maiyo notched her second individual crown of the season in Missouri as she finished with a time of 21:21.1 — the second-fastest 6K time in program history. This ranks just behind Emry McKay's 20:51 at the 2006 Division II National Championship in Pensacola, Fla.

En route to the individual win, Maiyo finished 37 seconds ahead of unattached second-place finisher Finja Lammeyer.

On the men's side, Brian Bett shined again at the Gans Creek Classic where he set the all-time 8K record for North Alabama in 2024 with a 23:26.4. This season, Bett finished five spots higher than he did last year in seventh with his 23:49.9 – now the fourth-fastest 8K time in program history. Bett now has the top-five finishes in school history. 

The men competed in the 8K Black Race which included strong teams such as UCLA, Ohio State, Kansas, Vanderbilt and Nebraska, among others. After a compiled 413 points, the Lions took home 17th as Bett and Vincent Chepkwony led the way.

The Lions finished higher than teams such as Saint Louis, UTSA, Baylor and ASUN foe Central Arkansas. UNA bested the 18th place Drake Bulldogs by 12 points.

Chepkwony finished 37th with a time of 24:18.8, just 10 seconds off his personal best of 24:08.1. Junior Aidan Shannon ran a 25:14.5 for 160th as he moved three slots up in the final 1000m of the race.
 
Sammy Sang and Jack Gruber finished with new personal records in Columbia as a Lion. Sang finished with a 25:35.3 while Gruber claimed for a time of 25:41.6. These were the only two men to finish with new PRs for the race. Both finished within the top 200.
 
Jackson Hamlin (26:19.4), Owen Otto (26:50.9) and Cole Smith (28:00.0) rounded out the lineup – all three moved up at least one spot in the final leg of the race.
 
The women competed in the 6K Open race, finding a 10th place finish amongst the 24 teams. The team surpassed opponents such as Lindenwood, Navy, Western Illinois and Saint Louis.
 
Maiyo made the headline, but Mary Anna Trimble and Taylor Williams helped out with personal records this morning. Williams placed 141st in 25:34.2 — nine seconds faster than her 2024 time at the Gans Creek Classic. Trimble crossed at 138th with a time of 25:31.3 — just eight-tenths of a second better than her 6K finish at the 2024 Crimson Classic.
 
Four Lion women made their 6K debuts in junior Savannah Williams, freshman Audrey Becker, sophomore Emma Bradford and freshman Cambree Bradford. Savannah Williams (23:43.2) placed 62nd to be the second Lion that crossed. Becker (24:48.1) was the third Lion to finish at 113th. Cambree Bradford (26:13.6) finished 160th while her sister, Emma (26:46.9), placed 175th.
 
Traci Pettus (26:50.7) finished 177th and Sophia Gentile (26:59.2) finished 183rd to close out the women's side.
 
"The effort we had today from our women is what we've been working toward," said head coach Connor Callahan. "When the conditions are what we had today, the focus is all on how well we battle through. I am happy with the effort our women gave. Sandra went out there and showed what we know she is capable of. I would have loved to see her in an earlier race. The men are continuing to put races together. Brian led the way for the men again, but I was really happy with the way Vincent bounced back after last race. Our younger men gained great experience today. I am ready to see what this group can do as we head into October."
 
Next up, the Lions get a break until Friday, Oct. 17 when they head to Tuscaloosa to compete in the Crimson Classic at Harry Pritchett Running Park.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.