JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (October 31, 2025) – The University of North Alabama cross country teams competed Friday morning at the ASUN Championships, with the men finishing fourth and the women placing 11th.
Sophomore Sandra Maiyo finished 13th with her blazing 17:07.1 that broke the long-standing North Alabama 5K record held by Teresa Steele (17:09) since 1985.
The men placed in fourth, the highest finish since 2020 where the Lions were one of eight ASUN teams that competed in a reduced field due to COVID-19.
The team averaged 24:42 among its five scoring runners — the fastest average in the Division I era — surpassing last year's ASUN mark by 16 seconds.
The five men scorers all landed inside the top-50 of the field of 117 participants.
North Alabama placed behind Eastern Kentucky, Lipscomb, and North Florida, all ranked in the top 10 of their respective regional polls: EKU is sixth in the Southeast Region, Lipscomb fourth in the South, and North Florida ninth in the South.
UNA accumulated 147 points which bested the Bears from Central Arkansas by eight points to strand them in fifth.
Sophomore Brian Bett (23:49.6) led all Lions in 16th as counterpart Vincent Chepkwony (24:25.2) was the next to cross in 29th. Sammy Sang (24:59.2) broke through as he rose 19 spots in the final split — giving him a new PR, the first under 25 minutes.
Junior Aidan Shannon (25:06.6) and freshman Jack Gruber (25:08.2) crossed one after the other for 46th and 47th respectively.
Gruber's time was the fastest by an American freshman in program history — he passed Connor Jackson's 25:25.7 set in 2021. Gruber added a PR by nearly 33 seconds in the Championship race.
Brent Lyons (25:53.4), Jackson Hamlin (25:55.3), Owen Otto (26:26.6) and Cole Smith (27:58.1) rounded out the Lions for the day.
Both Hamlin and Otto set new personal records early Friday morning. The senior from Alabaster set his first sub-26 minute 8K as he broke it by five seconds which was set at the 2023 UNA Invitational. Otto ran 14 seconds faster than his former PR from the Southern Showcase (26:40.7).
"The men's team came together and did exactly what I asked — finish in the top-four," said head coach Connor Callahan. "We knew this was a realistic goal, but someone would have to step up. Half the men's team ran personal best with two others running ten seconds off their personal best. The men all stepped up in a great field of athletes — I couldn't be happier. Highest ASUN finish, Gruber running a record setting race, and the team having what is likely the fastest team average in school history. Those things don't just happen by chance, this group battled."
Sophomore Sandra Maiyo made the headline as the women finish 11th with 290 as they beat Bellarmine by 18. Six of the seven women finished with a new personal record after the conclusion of the championship race.
Behind Maiyo was freshman Audrey Becker (19:09.7) in 70th; Savannah Williams (19:24.5) was not far behind in 73rd. Cambree Bradford (19:53.4) finished in 86th while Taylor Williams (20:08.4) finished in 91st. Mary Anna Trimble (20:32.1) and Traci Pettus (20:57.9) closed out the race for the Lions.
Becker, Maiyo, Bradford, Trimble, Pettus, and Williams each set personal records in Jacksonville.
"We knew going into the race the competition was going to be good," said Callahan. "While the team placement might not be what we wanted, the culture and energy of this group has been amazing. This group went into the day with one goal, to compete to the highest standard. More than half the women ran personal bests. Sandra knocked down a 40-year old school record! The energy of this team is only growing, and I am grateful to be part of it."
Next up, the Lions return to familiar territory as they host the South Regional in Huntsville, Ala. at John Hunt Park on Friday, Nov. 14.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
