CANTON, Ga. – The Southern Athletic Association Men’s and Women’s Cross Country teams are headed to Georgetown, Texas, this Saturday to compete in the 2025 SAA Cross Country Championship, hosted by Southwestern University.
The men's race will begin at 8:45 a.m. CT, followed by the women's race at 9:45 a.m. CT.
For more information about the championship—including course maps and the official championship program—please visit the
Southern Athletic Association Cross Country Championship Site.
Women’s Preview
Trinity enters the weekend as the preseason favorite after a runner-up finish in the SCAC in 2024. Last season, Berry captured the conference title, ending Centre's seven-year championship streak. The Colonels still hold the most titles in conference history.
Throughout the season, Trinity and Rhodes have gone head-to-head for SAA Athlete of the Week honors, each earning three selections, while Centre has claimed one. Key runners to watch include two-time SAA Athletes of the Week Gianna Kenna (Trinity) and Elena Gentry (Rhodes). Returning to defend her individual title is Sophie Bouldin (Centre), last year’s individual medalist.
In the latest USTFCCCA regional rankings, Rhodes sits at No. 3 in the South Region, while Trinity holds No. 4 in the West Region. Also ranked in the top 10 are Centre (No. 9, Great Lakes Region) and Berry (No. 9, South Region).
Men’s Preview
On the men’s side, Berry was selected to repeat as conference champions for the fifth straight season, with Trinity close behind. Under reigning SAA Coach of the Year Paul Deaton, the Vikings return three All-SAA athletes, making the 2025 championship one to watch. Trinity, the 2024 SCAC runner-up, has posted strong results throughout the fall.
Oglethorpe will also be a strong contender, leading the league in Athlete of the Week honors. Zachary Benner (first-team All-SAA, third-place finisher last season) and Ashton Deriso (2024 SAA Runner of the Year, SAA Championship record-holder with a time of 24:46.25) have each earned two weekly honors this season.
Centre continues to hold the record for most SAA men's cross country titles (five), followed closely by Berry and Rhodes with four each.
In regional rankings heading into the weekend, Berry and Rhodes are No. 6 and No. 7, respectively, in the South Region, while Trinity is ranked No. 10 in the West Region.
2024 Championship Team Results:
| PLACE |
MEN |
PTS |
WOMEN |
PTS |
| 1. |
Berry |
36 |
Berry |
30 |
| 2. |
Oglethorpe |
45 |
Centre |
36 |
| 3. |
Centre |
49 |
Rhodes |
83 |
| 4. |
Rhodes |
102 |
Sewanee |
132 |
| 5. |
Sewanee |
147 |
Hendrix |
151 |
| 6. |
Hendrix |
127 |
Millsaps |
159 |
| 7. |
Millsaps |
- |
Oglethorpe |
163 |
For more information on all things SAA, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the SAA's home on the internet at
www.saa-sports.com. Be sure to stay up to date on all of your Southern Athletic Association news by following @SAA_Sports on Twitter (X) and @SAA_Sports on Instagram.