Dillard Women, Philander Smith Men continue their reign with 2023 GCAC Cross Country titles

OAKVILLE, Ala. – Philander Smith University Panthers ran away with the 2023 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Men’s Cross Country title on Friday at Oakville Indian Mounds in Danville, Ala. The title is the second consecutive for the Panthers, who scored 44 points, finishing with a team time of 2:37:17.73.

Dillard University’s women notched their third consecutive title, scoring 40 points and placing five runners in the top 10 to capture the 2023 GCAC Women’s Cross Country title.

Desmond Merritt of Philander Smith captured the men’s individual title with a first-place time of 29:14.36 in the men’s 8K race. Merritt edged out two-time GCAC Runner of the Week Javoun Goldsby of Wiley College, who finished second with a time of 29:14.45, in a photo finish.

Wiley College Wildcats finished Runners-Up with a team time of 2:38:12.16, tallying 50 points with two runners in the top 10.

Philander Smith Head Coach Kameron Lewis, who ran for the Panthers’ 2022 Championship team, was named the 2023 GCAC Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year. Tougaloo’s Paul Scott was tabbed the 2023 GCAC Assistant Coach of the Year.

Philander Smith University Panther Ja’Neisha Collins took home the women’s individual title, finishing the women’s 6K in 26:11.96.

Dillard’s staff swept the coaches awards on the women’s side as Head Coach Nile Legania was tabbed 2023 Coach of the Year and Brandon Scruggs was named 2023 Assistant Coach of the Year.

NAIA Cross Country Championship qualifiers will be announced in the coming weeks. For details on the championship, visit naia.org.