BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Mississippi College Track and Field proudly announces that Bre Bell and Grayson Foster have been honored as Gulf South Conference (GSC) Athletes of the Week for their exceptional performances. This marks the third and fourth occasion that Mississippi College has received this honor during the 2024 Indoor Track and Field season.
Bre Bell, a junior hailing from Lexington, Mississippi, captured the title of Women's Runner of the Week for the first time in her track and field career following an outstanding weekend in Birmingham, Alabama. Bell showcased her incredible talent in two competitions - The UAB Vulcan Invite on Saturday, January 13, and the Emory Crossplex Showdown on Sunday, January 14.
At the UAB Vulcan Invite, Bell led the Lady Choctaws in the Women's 3,000m run, securing a remarkable runner-up finish and establishing herself as the top NCAA DII competitor in the field with a time of 10:06.69. However, she didn't stop there. On Sunday, The reigning GSC Women's 3K Steeplechase Champion returned to the track to compete in the Women's 5,000m run, where she displayed her prowess by clinching the victory in a time of 17:51.9. This performance marked a personal best for the Lexington, Miss. native and catapulted her to the No. 1 ranking in the Gulf South Conference. It is also worth noting that her incredible achievement ranks as the No. 3 all-time performance in the program's history in the 5,000m event. Furthermore, Bell's versatility as a distance runner is highlighted as she now stands inside the top five in the GSC in the 800m, 3,000m, and 5,000m events.
Freshman sensation Grayson Foster, a local talent from Madison, Mississippi, earned the title of GSC Men's Freshman of the Week. Foster left his mark at the Crimson and Gold Classic in Pittsburg, Kansas, where he competed in the Men's 400m run. He secured a phenomenal indoor lifetime best performance, clocking an impressive 48.27 seconds to clinch the victory in his section. Foster's achievement placed him at the top of the GSC rankings and earned him an NCAA DII Provisional mark, ranking him at No. 12 nationally and No. 3 in the program's history for the 400m event.
But the freshman phenom's contributions didn't end there. He demonstrated his versatility and determination by doubling back to start the Men's 4x400m relay, leading the team to another GSC No. 1 mark and an NCAA DII Provisional mark of 3:15.3. The 4x400m relay team, consisting of Foster, Connor Stewart, Gabe Hodson, and fellow freshman Evan Wrights, currently holds the No. 9 spot nationally and secured the No. 6 mark in the program's history in the event.
The Mississippi College Track and Field team is on an impressive trajectory, and the Choctaws are set to continue their outstanding performances at the upcoming Samford Invitational in Birmingham this Saturday.
