Men, Women Take Team Titles At MGA/Julius Johnson Invitational

Saturday, August 30

Macon, Ga.

8:00 a.m.

Mercer University

MGA/Julius Johnson Invitational

Men, Women Take Team Titles At MGA/Julius Johnson Invitational

8/30/2025 2:58:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country

By: Kaylin Flukey, Kaylin.flukey@live.mercer.edu

MACON, Ga. – The Mercer men's cross country team had the top ten finishers while the women's team placed six in the top ten at the MGA/Julius Johnson Invitational as the Bears secured both team titles in their home meet. Both teams had the first and second overall finishers on Saturday morning.

Freshman Mary Grace Parker won her first collegiate race with a time of 18:25.45, in the women's 5k finishing 23 seconds ahead of the rest of the field. Fellow Bear Chiara Belfico finished second overall with a time of 18:48.11 in her first race in a Mercer jersey. Olivia Jones, Courtney Calhoun, Abbie Kallbreier and Ava Ryan rounded out the top 10 finishers for the Bears to help Mercer secure the win.

All ten runners for the men's team crossed the finish line 30 before the opposing teams. Buck Ledford led the way for the Bears with a time of 19:06.05, following closely behind was Yianni Pothoulakis (19:45.93) and Jake Peters (19:57.48) who finished second and third overall, respectively. Jonathan Greene, Chris Connolly, Will Poelker, Will Herlihy, Hagan Russell, Peyton Millwood and Max Wakeland all contributed to the Mercer win.

The Bears will travel to Huntsville, Ala. on September 12 for their next meet, the Southern Showcase. The race will be hosted by the Jackson State at John Hunt Park.

MGA/Julius Johnson Invitational (August 30)
WOMEN'S 5K		MEN'S 6K
*Winner: Mary Grace Parker (Mercer, 18:25.45)*		Winner: Buck Ledford (Mercer, 19:06.05)
1	Mary Grace Parker, 18:25.45	1	! Buck Ledford, 19:06.05
2	Chiara Belfico, 18:48.11	2	Yianni Pothoulakis, 19:45.93
4	Olivia Jones, 19:18.19	3	Jake Peters, 19:57.48
7	Courtney Calhoun, 19:32.33	4	! Jonathan Greene, 20:02.07
8	Abbie Kallbreier, 20:18.11	5	Chris Connolly, 20:04.16
9	Ava Ryan, 20:22.13	6	Will Poelker, 20:08.09
11	Abigail Winford, 20:53.88	7	Will Herlihy, 20:18.36
14	Mackenzie Crowe, 21:46.84	8	! Hagan Russell, 20:22.62
		9	Peyton Millwood, 21:14.13
		10	Max Wakeland, 21:31.44
! = Personal Best