Cross Country wraps up 2025 season

The Troy cross country teams wrapped up the 2025 season at the Sun Belt Conference Championship meet in Foley, Alabama, last Friday. While both the men’s and women’s teams finished last, an injury-riddled Trojans squad saw multiple personal records as the season comes to a close. 

“I am really pleased to come away with so many personal records on the day,” said head coach Brian Cunningham to Troy Athletics. “It’s hard to be upset when people run faster than they ever have. 

“Obviously none of us are satisfied with the team’s score, but we made good progress on the season. Now we’ll heal up and get ready for track season.” 

On an unusually cool day in Foley, where it’s normally blazing hot, the Trojan men finished ninth as a team and the women placed 13th. Six out of Troy’s 10 runners on the men’s side set personal records, while one runner on the women’s team did. 

Sophomore Lane Watson led the way for the men, sliding into the top 25 with a 22nd place finish. He finished the 8K in 25:05.69 to set a personal best. 

Just behind Watson was Keith Warner, who finished 28th with a personal-best time of 25:15.55. While Caden Blackman was just one of Troy’s two men who didn’t set a personal best, he had a strong 39th place finish after clocking in at 25:43.84. 

Gavan Baxley finished fourth for the Trojans, putting an exclamation point on his collegiate career. Baxley finished 59th and set a personal best by 10 seconds with a time of 26:32.34. 

Freshman Ethan Newsome rounded out Troy’s scoring five with a 61st place finish, coming in at 26:43.94. 

On the women’s side, Makenna Calbert led the Trojans in the 5K. Her time of 18:21.40 was good for 52nd place. Arianna Elder placed 73rd, clocking in at 19:03.00. 

Lucy Turley was third for the women, finishing 81st with a time of 19:17.90.  

Abigail Carr set a personal best in the meet, placing 87th with a time of 19:31.90. The sophomore finished out the season on a high note and placed fourth on the team. 

Aisley McMeen rounded out the scoring five, finishing in 93rd place. She ran a 20:21.70 5K. 

The Trojans look ahead to indoor track season, which is set to start in early 2026.