MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Mississippi College won the 2025 Gulf South Conference Women’s Cross Country Championship, while Lee’s Maria Mitchell won the individual title on Saturday, Oct. 25 at Shelby Farms Park in Memphis, Tenn.

The Lady Choctaws won their first-ever conference title with 43 total points as their top five runners finished inside the top 15. Lee finished second with 51 points, while UAH was third with 87 points. West Florida took fourth with 100 points and Union rounded out the top five with 166 points.

Mississippi College’s title comes after posting runner-up finishes in three of the last four conference championships. The Lady Choctaws also recorded the best 6k team time (1:46:37) in GSC meet history as this was the second time the race was a 6K distance.

Mitchell was crowned the individual champion and named GSC Runner of the Year after navigating the 6K course with a time of 20:23.15. She captured Lee’s eighth individual title since 2016 and ran the fastest 6K time in conference championship history.

The Mississippi College quintet was led by Lauren Wallace with a fourth-place finish (20:45.59). She was followed by Bre Bell in fifth (21:05.66), Taylor Benoit in seventh (21:20.65), Audrey Mayatte in 13th (21.42.07) and Kinley Harris in 14th (21:43.70). Other notable finishers included Union’s Addi Aguayo in second (20:32.40) and Lee’s Estella Clemons in third (20:39.19).

West Alabama’s Mercy Lomuria was named the Freshman of the Year after finishing sixth overall with a time of 21:14.37. She is the first Tiger freshman to ever win the award. Meanwhile, Mississippi College head coach Joe Snyder was named Coach of the Year for the first time ever. The GSC also announced its 2025 All-GSC Teams. Honorees were determined by as their finish during the GSC Championship, with runners 1-10 recognized on the First Team and runners 11-20 receiving Second Team accolades. 

2025 GSC WOMEN'S XC TEAM RESULTS - 6K
1. Mississippi College - 43 pts
2. Lee - 51 pts
3. UAH - 87 pts
4. West Florida - 100 pts
5. Union - 166 pts
6. Auburn Montgomery - 192 pts
7. Trevecca Nazarene - 194 pts
8. Christian Brothers - 222 pts
9. Montevallo 229 pts
10. West Alabama - 229 pts
11. Valdosta State - 298 pts
12. Delta State - 378 pts

FIRST TEAM ALL-GSC
1. Maria Mitchell, LEE – 20:23.15
2. Addi Aguayo, UU – 20.32.40
3. Estella Clemons, LEE – 20:39.19
4. Lauren Wallace, MC – 20:45.59
5. Bre Bell, MC – 21:05.66
6. Mercy Lomuria, UWA – 21:14.37
7. Taylor Benoit, MC – 21:20.65
8. Tamsyn Gibbs, UAH – 21:29.63
9. Ava Sparks, LEE – 21:34.17
10. Elyse Carmichael, UWF – 21:35.10

SECOND TEAM ALL-GSC
11. Jessica Chappell, UWF – 21:38.42
12. Lexi Hinote, UAH – 21:41.64
13. Audrey Mayatte, MC – 21:42.07
14. Kinley Harris, MC – 21:43.70
15. Victoria Markham, UU – 21:48.13
16. Catherine Truemper, UAH – 21:52.87
17. Catherine Wallace, MC – 21:53.31
18. Capucine Cureau, LEE – 21:55.55
19. Sydney Orth, UWF – 21:56.70
20. Katie Beam, LEE – 21:57.59

Runner of the Year: Maria Mitchell, Lee
Freshman of the Year: Mercy Lomuria, West Alabama
Coach of the Year: Joe Snyder, Mississippi College