The Valdosta State men’s and women’s cross country teams each finished in the top 10 in the Gulf South Conference Championships at Mississippi College on Saturday. 

The VSU men finished ninth with senior Jaison Morning crossing the line 29th with a time of 26:25.48, while women finished 10th as freshman Kailey Brough finished in a time of 20:55.16 for 53rd.

Lee won its fourth straight title on the men’s side, while the Flames also took home the championship on the women’s side for the second straight year. Lee’s Christian Noble won medalist honors for the second straight year for the men and became the 10th runner in league history to win back-to-back titles. Mississippi College finished second, while Alabama-Huntsville was third.

VSU freshman Kevin Favard finished 55th with a time of 27:17.41 and freshman Khiro Hoilett was 58th with a time of 27:28.14. Freshman David Gunn finished 61st with a time of 27:42.33 and freshman Brishen House was 71st with a time of 28:00.22. Junior Chance Roe was 74th recording a time of 28:03.95. Senior Michael Perona finished his final league championship with a time of 28:23.86 for 78th, rounding out the scoring for the Blazers. Additionally, sophomore Nicholas Flatt was 79th with a time of 28:25.74 and junior Caleb Watson was 99th with a time of 31:35.31.

The ninth-place finish marked the best for the Blazers since finishing ninth in 2016 after finishing 11th last season. Morning’s finishing 29th was the best finish individually for a Blazer since Jesse Prince finished seventh in 2014, earning all-conference honors.

On the women’s side, Brough got her collegiate career off to a good start with her placing 53rd. Sophomore Angela Cipriani crossed the finish line second for the red and black in a time of 21:12.68 for 60th. A trio of Blazers finished 73rd-75th as freshman Samantha Murray crossed in 22:03.76, while junior Jamie Ford finished in 22:08.34 and sophomore Olivia Rosener at 22:09.58, respectively. Sophomore Amanda Allred finished 89th with a time of 24:01.23 rounding out the scoring for VSU. Freshman Kayle Smith was 91st at 24:20.13 and freshman Kali Carter was 96th at 27:43.27.

VSU finishing 10th was the best finish for the women since they finished fifth in 2016. Alabama-Huntsville finished second on the women’s side Saturday, followed by Union.

The teams will return home and prepare for the NCAA Regional scheduled for Nov. 17 in Lakeland, Fla.