BIRMINGHAM, Ala. --- The Mississippi College Track and Field team had a successful weekend competing at the Emory Crossplex Showdown in Birmingham, Alabama. One day after competing at the UAB Vulcan Invite, the distance runners returned to the Birmingham Crossplex to further their experience and simulate the Gulf South Conference Championships, a two-day event. They also aimed to achieve national-qualifying marks.

The team's hard work and dedication paid off as they came away with five event wins, 20 top-five finishes, and a meet record. The Choctaws also had three marks that hit the provisional standard. The Choctaw's team performance at this meet is a positive indication of their potential in the near future.

Assistant Track and Field Coach Jake Russell

*commenting on the exceptional weekend from the Mississippi College Track and Field distance runners

"From this meet, you could tell the distance runners did some good things over Christmas break when no one was watching, one of the true marks as an athlete. They are reaping the benefits of all that hard work, and I expect some good things from them, as well as the track and field team as a whole, in the near future."

Post-meet Running Statistics

-Hunter Kurz made a statement on the weekend, winning three out of three events; The Men's 3,000-meter run at the UAB Vulcan Invite, as well as the 1 Mile run and the 800-meter run at the Emory Crossplex Showdown. The Owensboro, Kentucky native ran a provisional standard of 4:07.93 in the Men's 1 mile to not only win, but also set the meet record in the event. He now leads the Gulf South Conference in both the 1 Mile and 3,000-meter run. 

-In the Men's 1 mile, Kurz led four other Choctaws inside the top five; Christian Balcer in a lifetime best of 4:09.8, Cole Benoit in a lifetime best of 4:10.1, Brock Kelly in 4:11.7, and Gabe Poulin in 4:17.9. Balcer, Benoit, and Kelly were also under the meet record along with Kurz. Lastly, Balcer and Benoit, along with Kurz, hit provisional standards in the event, and are now the three fastest 1-mile runners in Mississippi College Men's Indoor Track and Field history. 

-In the Men's 800m, Kurz led Balcer and Kelly to second and fourth-place finishes, respectively. Balcer ran 1:56.31, while Kelly ran 1:58.89. 

-One day after winning the Women's 3,000-meter run in a school record time of 10:09.84, Emily Berry won the Women's 5,000-meter run at the Emory Crossplex Showdown in a lifetime best of 18:16.69. The Tyler, Texas native now leads the Gulf South Conference in the event. Berry also lead three other Choctaws inside the top four; Bre Bell in a lifetime best of 18:31.42, Norma Gutierrez in a lifetime best of 18:37.46, and Josie Whipp in fourth place, 19:15.16. 

-Cooper Parmer kept his undefeated streak alive, winning the Men's 5,000-meter run in a lifetime best of 15:10.09, currently No. 2 in the Gulf South Conference. Parmer led two more Choctaws inside the top five; Hollis Johnson ran a lifetime best of 15:18.61 for fourth place, and Preston Speed in a lifetime best of 15:29.14 for fifth place. 

-Lauren Wallace won the Women's 3,000-meter run at the Emory Crossplex Showdown in a lifetime best of 10:23.34. Wallace is now ranked No. 5 in the Gulf South Conference in the event. She also led two other Choctaws to top four finishes; Jazmin Hernandez finished runner-up in 10:30.32, and Ava Dickerson ran a lifetime best of 10:41.44 for fourth place. 

-In the Women's 1 mile, Mississippi College freshman Haley Hall finished runner-up in a lifetime best of 5:16.51. Fellow Choctaw Leslie Baxter ran a lifetime best of 5:20.52 for fifth place. Hall and Baxter passed a combined total of 13 runners in the second half of their race.