Mercer University
Southern Showcase
Mercer Cross Country Heads to the Southern Showcase
9/17/2026 2:00:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer men's and women's cross country teams will travel to Huntsville, Ala., for the Southern Showcase on Sept. 18. The meet is hosted by Jacksonville State at John Hunt Park.
Both squads are coming off first-place finishes at the MGA/Julius Johnson Invitational that took place on Sept. 5. The men's team had eight top-10 finishes, while the women's team took the top seven spots. William Poelker set a new personal best with a 19:32.93 6K, placing second at the meet and earning SoCon Runner of the Week honors. Ania San Roman Lopez took home the women's title, running an 18:49.32 5K to win her first collegiate race wearing the Orange and Black.
The Bears competed in this race last year with the women's team pulling off an eighth-place finish while the men's team finished in 27th. Nikki Harris led the way for the women's team last year, finishing in 21st with a time of 17:14.35 5K.
The John Hunt Park course is a 10-meter-wide, manicured grass surface with many spurred loops. This course accommodates many other training and competition events throughout the year, including the NCAA, high school events and USA track and field events. There will be approximately two miles of walking trails that can be accessed by spectators and coaches during the race.
The men's 8k is set to take off at 8:30 a.m. ET with the women's 5k following shortly after at 9:10 a.m. ET.
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