2018 GCAC Cross Country Championhip Recap

CLINTON, Mississippi -- New faces in the winner's circle became the theme of the 2018 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Cross Country Championship, held at scenic Choctaw Trails on the campus of Mississippi College.

Of the top-20 runners on both the men's and women's side, 11 were first-time All-Conference designees. Philander Smith (Ark.) College, whose women's team scored 61 points to become the 2018 GCAC Women's Cross Country Runners Up, placed four newcomers—Zora Talbert, Brianna Alexander, Noel Lyons and Damien Gatson— in the top-10. The scrappy Little Rock-based program will send athletes to NAIA Cross Country Nationals in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on November 16, 2018 for the first time in school history. Head Coach Chris McConnell was voted Men's Coach of the Year by his peers for his work in turning around the fledging team.

On the women's side, the Gold Nuggets continued their win streak by claiming their 12th GCAC cross country championship in as many years with 30 total points. Junior Taylor Price snatched a first place victory from teammate and defending champion Maliya Vaughn, outkicking her in the final meters of the race to finish the women's 5k in 21:20.07. Vaughn finished in 21:23.65.

Southern University at New Orleans' women's team, fresh off a 2018 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championship, placed three in the top-10 and came in third overall, with senior Kimona Smikle and sophomore Xuxa Peart placing 5th and 6th, respectively, and sophomore Yanique Watson coming in 9th.

The Lady Bleu Devils had a single student-athlete place in the top-10, senior Hydeia Barney, who went 22:35.07 to come in 4th. Still, the Bleu Devils placed 5th overall with 117 points and an average time of 29:44.40.

PHOTO GALLERY



For the men, Edward Waters (Fla.) College failed to replicate their 2017 upset victory over the Xavier University of Louisiana Gold Rush, but that didn't stop 2017 Men's Champion Solomon Stevens from outwitting his opponents by running a strategic race to come in first overall yet again. Though Xavier would reclaim the men's title, Stevens would again prove to be spoiler, outkicking second-place finisher Santerris Booker in the race's final meters.

Stevens finished the men's 8k in 29:01.65, with Booker coming in at 29:07.80. Xavier freshman duo Francis Patterson and Jordan Ashmore finished 3rd and 4th in the race, while Philander sophomore Noel Lyons drastically improved his 2017 finish by coming in 5th. Southern – NO freshman Daniel Wint came in 8th at 31:03.02.

Xavier's men finished with 34 points and an average time of 30:53.03. Edward Waters came in second with 50 points, while Philander Smith finished third with 54 points. The Tigers had an average time of 31:31.24 and the Panthers had an average time of 31:27.40.

For full results, click here.

2018 GCAC Women's All-Conference
Taylor Price, Xavier
Maliya Vaughn, Xavier
Brianna Pace, Xavier
Hydeia Barney, Dillard
Kimona Smikle, Southern – NO
Xuxa Peart, Southern – NO
Brianna Alexander, Philander Smith
Zora Talbert, Philander Smith
Yanique Watson, Southern – NO
Ky'Reon McBride, Xavier

2018 GCAC Women's Coach of the Year
Yhann Plummer, Xavier

2018 GCAC Men's All-Conference
Solomon Stevens, Edward Waters
Santerris Booker, Philander Smith
Francis Patterson, Xavier
Jordan Ashmore, Xavier
Noel Lyons, Philander Smith
Michael Noltion, Edward Waters
Camren Sewell, Xavier
Daniel Wint, Southern – NO
Oji Wells, Xavier
Damien Gatson, Philander Smith

2018 GCAC Men's Coach of the Year
Christopher McConnell, Philander Smith



GULF COAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS