Millsaps Cross Country Ready for 2026 Season with Veterans and Freshmen
The Millsaps College men’s and women’s cross country programs are preparing for the 2026 season with a mix of veteran leadership and new talent. The teams, led by second-year head coach Brandon Beckett and first-year assistant coach Shana Sellers, aim to finish first at the Southern Athletic Association Championships on Oct. 31 in Sewanee, Tennessee, according to school officials.
The men’s team features junior Greer Hernandez, who finished 26th at the 2025 SAA Championships with a time of 26 minutes, 35 seconds. Fellow junior Phillip Antis also contributed last season, finishing 86th in the Mississippi College 5K Opener with a time of 19 minutes, 36.6 seconds. Sophomores Mason Castleberry and Dallas Stricker, both in their second seasons, also played key roles, with Castleberry finishing 58th at the same meet and Stricker placing 27th in Clinton, Mississippi, last fall.
Benjamin Sylve, a Canton, Mississippi, native, is returning after competing in three meets during his first season. The men’s roster also includes six freshmen — Jonathan Brister, Damaurien Graves, Ethan Hall, Om Patel, R.T. Tate, and Kameron Wilson — all expected to develop strong college careers.
On the women’s side, juniors Claudia Dempsey and Taylor Sutton are expected to lead. Dempsey earned a spot on the 2025 SAA Fall All-Sportmanship Team and finished 26th at the MC 5K Opener in 21 minutes, 45.2 seconds. Sutton competed in two meets last season, and both athletes are poised to improve further in 2026.
Freshmen Caitlyn Bounds, Marlina Jones, Lila Jane Sekinger, and Myla Walker are also joining the team, looking to make an impact in their first collegiate season. The teams will compete in four regular-season meets before postseason action, including the Watson Collegiate XC Classic on Oct. 16 in Clinton.
The postseason schedule includes the SAA Championships on Oct. 31, the NCAA South Regionals on Nov. 14, and the NCAA Division III Championships in Northfield, Minnesota, on Nov. 21, where top qualifiers will compete for national titles.
Millsaps will keep fans updated through its social media channels and website. The college, founded in Jackson, Mississippi, in 1890, is recognized for its academic excellence and commitment to community engagement. It has received praise from multiple national ranking organizations, including U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review.
Source: Original Article
