JACKSON, Miss. – The Millsaps men's and women's cross country programs look to continue making strides on the trails after welcoming 10 newcomers and returning four veterans.
The Majors will be led by head coach
Brandon Beckett and assistant coach Derrick Jordan. Both coached the men's and women's track and field programs in the Spring and this will be the first helming the cross country squads.
On the men's side, junior
Greer Hernandez will look to lead the Majors on the trails. The dual-sport athlete for the Majors made an impressive run during his freshman campaign by becoming the first NCAA Division III All-Region finisher in Millsaps men's cross country history.
He finished 34th at the NCAA South Regional meet with an 8K program-record time of 26:09.75. In his first SAA championship, the Broussard, La., native also placed 24th. Hernandez returns after recovery from injury last season and also competes for the Millsaps men's soccer team.
Sophomore Phillip Antis will be making his way back toward the hills after finishing top 65 in the 2024 SAA Cross Country Championships. The New Orleans, La., product completed his eight-kilometer time in 31 minutes and 27.7 seconds.
Freshmen Cameron Anderson, Mason Castleberry, Devion Hart, Dallas Stricker, Benjamin Sylve and Wyatt Wheeler will also be looking to make an impact for the Majors.
On the women's side, sophomore Claudia Dempsey will be returning for her second season after cracking the top 60 in the 2024 SAA Cross Country Championships (28:38.1 – 6K; 58th).
Classmate Laken Day, another strong competitor for the Majors, also saw her best finish at the 2024 SAA Championships. She ran a career-best time in 33 minutes and 21.40 seconds to take the 74th spot.
Molly Northam, a sophomore and member of the Millsaps women's basketball and track and field programs, will be joining the team alongside senior Kris Arrington. Arrington competed in one meet during the 2025 track and field season.
Running long distance for the Majors will also include freshmen Katelynn Brown and Sara Grace Hogatt.
The Majors will compete in five regular season meets prior to up to three potential postseason races.
Competition will begin in Memphis, Tenn., with the City Auto Memphis Twilight XC Classic on Saturday, Aug. 30. The festival of races will feature collegiate races at 9:20 p.m. and 10 p.m. The women will cover five kilometers, followed by a four-miler by the men.
Southern Athletic Association newcomer Southwestern University will host the 2025 SAA Cross Country Championships in Georgetown, Texas, on Saturday, Nov. 1.
The top contenders will then compete in the NCAA South Region Championships in Salem, Va., on Saturday, Nov. 15.
Those lucky enough to post exceptional times at that event will qualify for the 2025 NCAA Cross Country Championships, which will be hosted in Spartanburg, S.C., on Saturday, Nov. 22.
2025 Millsaps College Men's and Women's Cross Country Schedule
| DATE |
MEET |
TIME |
NOTES |
| Saturday, Aug. 30 |
at City Auto Memphis Twilight XC Classic |
9:20/10 p.m. |
Season Opener |
| Friday, Sept. 5 |
at MC 5K Opener |
6/6:45 p.m. |
|
| Saturday, Sept. 20 |
at Rhodes Invitational |
8/8:50 a.m. |
|
| Friday, Sept. 26 |
at Twilight at John Hunt Park |
7:30/8:30 p.m. |
Hosted by RunningLane |
| Friday, Oct. 17 |
at Watson Collegiate Classic |
8/8:45 a.m. |
Hosted by MC |
| Saturday, Nov. 1 |
at SAA Championships |
10/11 a.m. |
Hosted by Southwestern |
| Saturday, Nov. 15 |
at NCAA South Regionals |
10 a.m. CT |
Salem, Va. |
| Saturday, Nov. 22 |
at NCAA Championships |
10 a.m. CT |
Spartanburg, S.C. |
To keep up to date with everything surrounding the Millsaps College men's and women's cross country programs follow the Majors on X and Instagram, like Millsaps Majors Athletics on Facebook and visit gomajors.com.
Founded in Jackson, Mississippi in 1890, Millsaps College is a national liberal arts college dedicated to academic excellence, open inquiry and free expression, the exploration of faith to inform vocation and the innovative shaping of the social, economic and cultural progress of our region. Consistently ranked as one of the best values in higher education, Millsaps has been praised by Colleges That Change Lives, The Princeton Review, Forbes Magazine, U.S. News & World Report, The John Templeton Foundation, and The Fiske Guide to Colleges.
