VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State men's cross country team was picked to finish tenth in the 2024 GSC Preseason Coaches Poll, as voted on by head coaches across the conference. The Blazers return three runners from last year's squad, where they finished tenth overall in the 2023 GSC XC Championship.
Lee was voted to finish first, as the reigning GSC Champions received 98 points on eight first place votes. Alabama Huntsville wasn't too far behind, as they ranked second with 92 points on three first place votes. Mississippi College (83), Christian Brothers (64), and West Florida (62) rounded out the top five. Auburn Montgomery (61) was tabbed sixth, as Union (42), Montevallo (41), Trevecca Nazarene (26) and Valdosta State (25) rounded out the top ten. West Alabama finished the poll in 11
th with 11 points.
Out of the returners, sophomore
Aaron Munger is coming back with the top 8k time, as he clocked a PR of 27:21.2 in the Alabama Huntsville Charger Invitational. Graduate student
Austen Sekowski will also be making a return, as the Loganville, Ga. native will look to finish his Blazer career strong. The final returner is junior
Matthew Herndon, who will look to contribute to this Blazer team.
"The three core returners from the 2024 campaign are solid performers who will be enhanced by the four newcomers to the 2024 Cross Country squad. These men have chosen to train, pack, work and succeed together. Fun times ahead."
- Head Coach Todd Smoot
Head coach
Todd Smoot welcomes four new runners, as he brings in a lot of experience and depth to the 2024 roster. Smoot brings in graduate student
Elijah Pace, junior
Parker Jackson, sophomore
Caleb Tilford, and freshman Nick Wadell.
The Blazers open the 2024 season in Valdosta, as they will host the annual VSU Border Clash on Friday, September 6 at 6:20 p.m. at Freedom Park, as the men will start with the 7.25k followed by the women with a 5k. VSU has also been granted to host the Gulf South Conference XC Championship for the first time in school history on Saturday, October 26.
