Friday, September 18
Huntsville, Ala.
8:30 a.m.
Mercer University
at
Southern Showcase
Women's Cross Country Places Among Top 5 At Southern Showcase
9/19/2026 8:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The Mercer women's cross country team finished in 4th place with the men's team placing 20th overall at the Southern Showcase in Huntsville, Ala. on Friday morning.
The Bears repeated their success from last year at the Southern Showcase, finishing fourth as a team over Power Four schools such as Mississippi State, Georgia Tech, Baylor, and the University of Central Florida. Eight different Bears had personal bests, including 5th year, Nikki Harris, who reclaimed the third fastest time in school history with a 17:13.7 5K to finish 19th. Mary Grace Parker finished right behind her at 23rd with a time of 17:19.8. Chiara Belfico and Paula Sandoval both ran personal bests of 17:33.1 and 17:39.9 to finish 31st and 33rd, respectively. Ella Pettersson ran in her first collegiate tournament, placing 42nd with a time of 17:42.9. Ania San Roman Lopez and Alayna Carter both finished in the top 100 as well, placing 49th and 68th, respectively, while running personal bests of 17:48.2 and 18:05.7.
Mackenzie Crowe, Emily Ireland, and Abigail Winford also all ran personal bests to bring the grand total for the women's team to eight.
Sophomore Will Poelker continued his strong start to the year by running a personal best in the men's 8K with a 25:19.0 to finish in 69th place. Hagan Russell finished behind him in 109th while also running a personal best of 25:45.2. Andrew Jacknewitz, Christopher Cerwinka, Om Jagtap, Ryan Judy, Angus Brown, Brody Boerboom, and Hanniel Soosaidas also completed their first collegiate 8K at the Southern Showcase.
The Bears will have two weeks to prepare for their next meet at the Chile Pepper Festival in Fayetteville, Ark. in Agri Park.
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The Bears repeated their success from last year at the Southern Showcase, finishing fourth as a team over Power Four schools such as Mississippi State, Georgia Tech, Baylor, and the University of Central Florida. Eight different Bears had personal bests, including 5th year, Nikki Harris, who reclaimed the third fastest time in school history with a 17:13.7 5K to finish 19th. Mary Grace Parker finished right behind her at 23rd with a time of 17:19.8. Chiara Belfico and Paula Sandoval both ran personal bests of 17:33.1 and 17:39.9 to finish 31st and 33rd, respectively. Ella Pettersson ran in her first collegiate tournament, placing 42nd with a time of 17:42.9. Ania San Roman Lopez and Alayna Carter both finished in the top 100 as well, placing 49th and 68th, respectively, while running personal bests of 17:48.2 and 18:05.7.
Mackenzie Crowe, Emily Ireland, and Abigail Winford also all ran personal bests to bring the grand total for the women's team to eight.
Sophomore Will Poelker continued his strong start to the year by running a personal best in the men's 8K with a 25:19.0 to finish in 69th place. Hagan Russell finished behind him in 109th while also running a personal best of 25:45.2. Andrew Jacknewitz, Christopher Cerwinka, Om Jagtap, Ryan Judy, Angus Brown, Brody Boerboom, and Hanniel Soosaidas also completed their first collegiate 8K at the Southern Showcase.
The Bears will have two weeks to prepare for their next meet at the Chile Pepper Festival in Fayetteville, Ark. in Agri Park.
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| MGA/Julius Johnson Invitational (September 5) | |||
| WOMEN'S 5K | MEN'S 8K | ||
| Winner: Caren Kiplagat (15:41.4, Alabama) | Winner: Dismus Lokira (23:08.8, Alabama) | ||
| 19 | ! Nikki Harris, 17:13.7 | 69 | ! Will Poelker, 25:19.0 |
| 23 | Mary Grace Parker, 17:19.8 | 109 | ! Hagan Russell, 25:45.2 |
| 31 | ! Chiara Belfico, 17:33.1 | 126 | Andrew Jacknewitz, 25:53.6 |
| 38 | ! Paula Sandoval, 17:39.9 | 136 | Christopher Cerwinka, 25:59.3 |
| 42 | Ella Pettersson, 17:42.9 | 154 | Jake Peters, 26:11.2 |
| 49 | ! Ania San Roman Lopez, 17:48.2 | 166 | Colby Bornstein, 26:20.2 |
| 68 | ! Alayna Carter, 18:05.7 | 196 | Ryan Judy, 26:40.6 |
| 142 | Abbie Kallbreier, 18:49.2 | 201 | Nick Frye, 26:44.5 |
| 155 | ! Mackenzie Crowe, 19:04.1 | 204 | Om Jagtap, 26:46.1 |
| 165 | Kamryn Wingfield, 19:09.9 | 205 | Chris Connolly, 26:46.9 |
| 202 | ! Emily Ireland, 19:26.1 | 213 | Will Herlihy, 26:53.1 |
| 217 | Ava Ryan, 19:41.2 | 230 | Angus Brown, 27:08.8 |
| 249 | Courtney Calhoun, 19:57.9 | 276 | Brody Boerboom, 28:08.4 |
| 265 | ! Abigail Winford, 20:15.9 | 283 | Hanniel Soosaidas, 28:20.9 |
| 292 | Maxwell Wakeland, 28:52.8 | ||
| ! = Personal Best | |||
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
Saturday, September 19
Friday, September 18
Wednesday, September 16
Sunday, September 13
