Vanderbilt Women’s and Men’s Cross Country competed at the NCAA Division I South Region Championships in Huntsville, Alabama, on Nov. 14. The men’s team improved significantly from its last meet in Knoxville, Tennessee, on Oct. 31, where it placed last at the SEC Championships.  The men’s side came in 16th place out of the 27 teams that ran in Huntsville on Friday, while on the women’s side, the team finished sixth overall with three runners in the top 20 — its best result since 2016. 

The women’s team improved by three places from last year’s meet and by 119 points overall. The men’s team matched its finish from last year, but they improved their total score by 37 points.  

Sophomore Bria Bennis led the team with a 13th-place finish and a potential bid for an individual NCAA qualifier spot after running 19:51.24. She was shortly followed by Claire Peterson and Tyla Lumley in 17th and 20th place, respectively. Their performances in the 5-kilometer race earned all three All-South region honors. 

“This is the performance we have been working for the entire season,” Director of Cross Country and Track and Field Althea Thomas said. “Our ladies started the day with confidence and unshakable execution.” 

The men’s team was led by Luke Churchwell, who finished 60th in the 10-kilometer race with a time of 31:14.41. He was followed by Sam Darmanie, who placed 69th overall and 10th among true freshmen with a time of 31:27.21. 

“This was a necessary step towards greatness,” Thomas said. “We are officially a complete cross-country program.”  

Because no Commodores qualified for the NCAA Championships on Nov. 22 in Columbia, Missouri, the cross country postseason has concluded. Select athletes will now shift their focus to the individual winter indoor track season.