Cross Country Prepares for Southern Showcase

Friday, September 12

Huntsville, Ala.

Troy University

Southern Showcase

Cross Country Prepares for Southern Showcase

9/11/2025 9:13:00 AM | Cross Country

Live Stats

By: Troy Athletics Communications

TROY, Ala. – Troy cross country prepares for its second meet of the season on Friday, Sept. 12, at the Southern Showcase in the John Hunt XC Running Park.

"We are very excited to compete in the Southern Showcase this week, on one of my favorite cross country courses in the nation," head coach Brian Cunningham said. "For the men, it will be the first opportunity to compete over the full 8k distance. Both the men's and women's races will feature some top-flight caliber competition, not only from our conference and region, but from around the country. This will be an excellent opportunity to get in and race and see where we are good and where we need improvements in the march towards the Sun Belt meet at the end of October."

Troy starts the meet at 7:30 a.m. on the men's side, followed by the women at 8:30 a.m. in Huntsville, Ala. Last season, the Trojans claimed a 25^th (men) and 29^th (women) place finish with Keith Warner claiming the best individual finish at 97^th (25:33.88).

Meet Information
What: Southern Showcase
Where: Huntsville, Ala. – John Hunt XC Running Park
When: Friday, Aug. 29 (Men 8k – 7:30 a.m. / Women 5k – 8:30 a.m.)

Lineup
Women: Makenna Calbert, Abigail Carr, Arianna Elder, Aisley McMeen, Giulianna Rivero, Lucy Turley

Men: Gavan Baxley, Caden Blackman, Patterson Graham, Ethan Newsome, Bennett Phillips, Keith Warner, Lane Watson

Opener Recap
Troy opened the 2025 season with two top-20 finishers on the men's side, led by Caden Blackman, who finished 12th with a time of 15:25.10. Lane Watson followed closely behind in 15:35.54 to finish 20th. Caden Phillippi (15:41.97) and Ethan Newsome (16:18.76) debuted for Troy with top 50 finishes at 22nd and 38th.

On the women's side, Makenna Calbert led the team with a 20th-place finish, crossing the line in 18:38.10 as the squad's lone top 20 performer. Arianna Elder followed in 36th with a time of 10:20.66, while newcomer Haley Wilson made her cross-country debut in 19:38.48 to place 48th.