Gadsden, AL – The Gadsden State Community College cross country teams are heading to the national stage as they prepare to compete at the NJCAA Division II Cross Country Championships on Nov. 9. The event will take place at Pole Green Park in Richmond, Virginia, with the women’s team set to run at 9:30 a.m. and the men’s individual qualifier following at 10:30 a.m.
The women’s team earned its spot as a group, marking their third consecutive qualification since the program’s inception. “I’m very happy with the continued success of our program,” said head coach Jackson Millander. “The women’s team has qualified for nationals since its inception three seasons ago.” On the men’s side, freshman Ryan Matthews will represent Gadsden State as an individual qualifier.
The 2024 season saw both Gadsden State’s men’s and women’s teams achieve national recognition, with the women’s team reaching a high of 12th in the NJCAA Division II Coaches Poll and the men’s team ranking 24th. “Although we have slipped out of the rankings, I expect these girls to compete at a very high level this weekend,” Millander noted.
The Lady Cardinals enter the national meet following a fifth-place finish at the Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) Region 22 Cross Country Championships on Oct. 25. Standout freshman Kaylee Tarpley led Gadsden State with a 13th-place finish in the 5K race, clocking in at 21:16. Maddie Holt followed in 18th place with a time of 22:08, while Alexis Renn finished just outside the Top 25, placing 26th at 22:47. Riley Matthews and McKinley Kay rounded out the team with times of 24:33 and 24:36, respectively.
The men’s team placed ninth overall at the ACCC meet, with Matthews finishing 17th in the 8K race at 27:48, securing his qualification for nationals. Sophomore Deshaun Foster finished in 47th place with a time of 30:09, while other Gadsden State runners included Lane Griffin, Conner Strawn, Travis Cooley, Jonah Medders, and Tyler Worley.
“We didn’t have our best performance at the ACCC Championship Meet, but I believe that has only motivated this team to work even harder,” said Millander. “To finish Top 5 in our conference is a testament to how hard these girls worked this season. We compete in one of the toughest conferences in the nation, which is loaded with many Top 25 teams.”
As they prepare to represent Gadsden State at the national level, the Lady Cardinals and Matthews are eager to showcase their hard work and dedication on a national stage. For more information on Gadsden State Athletics, visit gocardinals.gadsdenstate.edu.
