MC Cross Country Teams Compete in Nationals, Both Finish in the Top 25

The Choctaws capped off a strong season of cross country at nationals.

Senior Jan Lukas Becker receives his award for making the Division II All-American team. (Photo Credit: Chris Webber)

Mississippi College men’s and women’s cross country teams competed in the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championship on Nov. 18, in Joplin, Missouri. The women ran a 6k, and the men followed suit with a 10k. With teammates and family traveling across states to attend the national championship, expectations were high for the Choctaws. 

The Lady Choctaws finished 24th out of 32 teams competing in the 6k, with an average time of 21:56.6. The women’s team finished 2nd among the Gulf South Conference schools. 

Lauren Wallace finished first for the Lady Choctaws, placing 107th with a time of 21:43.5. Following closely behind her was Bre Bell in 120th and Jazmin Hernandez in 127th. 

Taylor Benoit (152nd), Josie Whipp (167th), Norma Gutierrez (236th), and Emily Berry (240th) rounded out the nationals squad. 

The men’s cross country team finished 20th out of the 34 teams that qualified for the meet. Out of the Gulf South Conference, only Lee University finished ahead of them. The men went into the meet ranked 22nd in the nation. 

Jan Lukas Becker had a notable finish, placing 7th with a time of 29:22.9. His placement in the top 40 earned him a spot on the 2023 NCAA Division II All-American Cross Country team.

Braedon Methvin was the next finisher for MC with a time of 31:11.5, receiving 100th place. Following Methvin came Cole Benoit in 127th, Wyatt Whipp in 186th, Preston Speed in 201st, and Cooper Parmer in 217th.