CLINTON, Miss. — A promising start to the 2026 Millsaps men's and women's cross country seasons saw 10 freshmen make their collegiate debuts, while a couple familiar faces led the way at the Mississippi Christian University 5K Opener: Sponsored by Southern Farm Bureau Life on Friday.

Juniors Greer Hernandez and Claudia Dempsey paced the Majors at the Choctaw Trails, following a brief lightning delay and facing muggy conditions.

Hernandez set a 5K-personal best in his second-ever collegiate race at the distance. He set a time of 16 minutes, 22.3 seconds to place 31st.

Sophomore Benjamin Sylve put down a swift time after a strong track and field season alongside Hernandez. Sylve crossed in 54th place in a personal-best time of 17:37.2

A total of six Majors on the men's side also posted their first-ever college result, while Phillip Antis began his junior campaign.

Kameron Willson (60th; 17:51.4), Ethan Hall (62nd; 18:02.0), and R.T. Tate (63rd; 18:03.1) helped Millsaps finish seventh out of 11 teams across NCAA Division I, II, and III as well as JUCO and NAIA institutions.

Also competing on Friday for the Majors were Jonathan Brister (69th; 19:00.0). Antis (74th; 19:35.4), Om Patel (76th; 19:40.1), and Damaurien Graves (87th; 21:21.7).

On the women's side, four Majors debuted alongside two junior returners. Dempsey had a quality 50th-place showing (23:16.2), placing just ahead of freshman Lila Jane Sekinger (53rd; 23:28.9).

A trio of newcomers completed the Major scoring, which included Marlina Jones (63rd; 25:15.0), Caitlyn Bounds (64th; 25:20.2), and Myla Walker (27:28.9). Battling through side cramps, junior Taylor Sutton ended the meet in 79th in 29:45.1.

The Majors return to the course on Friday, Sept. 18 at the Southern Showcase, which will be hosted by Jacksonville State University in Huntsville, Ala.

 

MILLSAPS 5K FINISHERS – MEN
PLACE	STUDENT-ATHLETE	TIME	NOTES
31)	Greer Hernandez	16:22.3	Personal Best
54)	Benjamin Sylve	17:37.2	Personal Best
60)	Kameron Wilson	17:51.4	Collegiate Debut
62)	Ethan Hall	18:02.0	Collegiate Debut
63)	R.T. Tate	18:03.1	Collegiate Debut
69)	Jonathan Brister	19:00.0	Collegiate Debut
74)	Phillip Antis	19:35.4
76)	Om Patel	19:40.1	Collegiate Debut
87)	Damaurien Graves	21:21.7	Collegiate Debut
107	Finishers
TEAM SCORES – MEN
PLACE	TEAM	POINTS
1)	Mississippi College	36
2)	ULM	59
3)	Mobile	98
4)	MS College Alumni	114
5)	Jackson State	131
6)	William Carey	148
7)	Millsaps	175
8)	Meridian CC	209
9)	Alcorn State	255
10)	Tougaloo	278
11)	Mississipp Valley	323
MILLSAPS 5K FINISHERS – WOMEN
PLACE	STUDENT-ATHLETE	TIME	NOTES
50)	Claudia Dempsey	23:16.2
53)	Lila Jane Sekinger	23:28.9	Collegiate Debut
63)	Marlina Jones	25:15.0	Collegiate Debut
64)	Caitlyn Bounds	25:20.2	Collegiate Debut
76)	Myla Walker	27:28.9	Collegiate Debut
79)	Taylor Sutton	29:45.1	Personal Best
86	Finishers
TEAM SCORES – WOMEN
PLACE	TEAM	POINTS
1)	ULM	29
2)	Mississippi College	49
3)	MS College Alumni	62
4)	William Carey	92
5)	Jackson State	163
6)	Mobile	177
7)	Meridian CC	182
8)	Delta State	245
9)	Alcorn State	249
10)	Belhaven	256
11)	Millsaps	268
12)	Mississippi Valley	308

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.