MEMPHIS, TENN. – Valdosta State University cross country teams wrapped up their 2025 Gulf South Conference Championships on Saturday morning at Shelby Farms Park, hosted by Christian Brothers University. The Blazers battled against one of the deepest fields in Division II South Region competition, featuring nationally ranked programs like Lee (Tenn.) and Alabama-Huntsville.

In the women's race, there were a ton of new personal records recorded for the blazers. Freshman Samantha Savinon-Rios led the way for the Blazer women, finishing 55th overall with a time of 23:39.51. She was followed closely by junior Alanta Lofton, who clocked 24:21.73 for 59th, and sophomore Emma Burnett, who crossed in 24:22.56 for 61st. Sophomore Ella Burnett was next at 24:32.77 (63rd), giving all four racers new PR's.  Senior Anna Brown rounded out the scoring five at 25:47.01 (69th). Freshman Alyssa Youmans also contributed with finishes of 27:54 respectively. 

On the men's side, there were also new PR's recorded for the Blazers. Sophomore Nicolas Waddell once again paced Valdosta State, crossing the line in 25:55.43 to finish 43rd overall. He was followed by freshman James Wilkerson, who ran 26:30.14 (55th), and Toshiya Bass, finishing in 27:17.48 (67th). Senior Caleb Tilford came in with a solid 28:55.85, while sophomore Hunter Shuler rounded out the scoring with a 28:57.89 performance. Giving all the male racers new PR's.  The men competed hard against a dominant Lee University squad that claimed the team title, led by a sweep of the top-five spots. Despite the tough field, the Blazers showed promise with continued improvement from their young core.
 

The women's team achieved their fastest 6K of the season with an impressive average time of 24:32, demonstrating their continued improvement and strong performance. Likewise, the men's team recorded their best 8K average of the season, finishing in 27:31. Both teams showcased remarkable progress and determination, making this meet their most successful outing of the season so far.

Next up, Valdosta State turns its attention to the NCAA South Region Championship, set to be held in two weeks. The Blazers will look to carry their momentum from the GSC Championships into the regional meet, where they'll face elite competition from across the South Region. With continued improvements from their young lineup, both squads are eager to finish the season strong and measure their growth against the best in Division II.

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