LAKELAND, Fla. – The University of West Alabama men's and women's cross country teams closed out their 2024 seasons at the NCAA South Region Championships on Saturday morning at Holloway Park, with both squads earning top-15 finishes against a competitive regional field. The men's team placed 10th overall, while the women's team secured 14th.
On the women's side, sophomore Mercy Lomuria continued her standout season, finishing 10th overall in the 6K with a time of 21:54.12. Her performance once again led the Tigers and capped off an impressive postseason stretch that included a top-six finish and GSC Freshman of the Year honors at the conference meet.
Following Lomuria were Miriam Dominguez-Tellez (24:28.61), Rita Walker (24:23.17), Augusta Arnold (25:29.78), and Laurel Morse (26:51.92), rounding out a consistent team effort to conclude the fall campaign. The women's team showed steady growth throughout the season, setting multiple personal bests and building a strong foundation for the future.
On the men's side, graduate student Mathis Breton led the way for the Tigers once again, clocking a 34:04.44 in the 10K. Close behind were Lorenzo Pelusi (34:33.38), Gary Mata (34:50.04), Jonathan Phillips (35:10.57), Julian Council (35:48.98), Sha'Kenye Darden (36:21.64), and Jentzen Moore (36:31.41), all contributing to UWA's 10th-place team finish.
Saturday's regional marked the culmination of a season defined by progress, depth, and determination. With strong individual performances and consistent improvement across the roster, both Tiger squads have positioned themselves well heading into the next chapter of UWA cross country.
