The University of Mississippi Athletics
Friday, October 17
Columbia, Mo.
10 AM
Ole Miss
at
Pre-Nationals
Men’s Cross Country Third, Women 14th at Pre-National Invitational
10/17/2025 | Cross Country
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Ole Miss men's cross country came away with a strong third-place team finish, while the women took 14th at the Pre-National Invitational hosted by Missouri on Friday morning.
The 24th-ranked Rebels found themselves in a SEC-centric battle for the top spot in the 8K, eventually settling for third place at 178 points behind Georgia (119) and No. 19 Missouri (164), but ahead of Texas (183). Earlier in the morning, the Ole Miss women were just one spot behind No. 3 Florida (378) in 14th place at 387 points in a powerful 6K competition that featured six ranked teams and a 145-point win by No. 1 BYU (25) over No. 19 Villanova (170).
Junior Kidus Misgina led the charge for the Rebel men again, finishing fourth overall in the 8K at 23:08.8. Misgina was 11th last time out on this course at Mizzou's Gans Creek Classic on Sept. 26, and today he led an Ole Miss scoring charge that featured two top-15 finishers and a spread of one minute and 12 seconds.
Senior Toby Gillen wasn't far behind in 11th place at 23:23.4 for his first complete 8K of the season. Sophomore Lukas Ehrle took 34th at 23:56.4, but it was two freshmen in their first career 8Ks who helped push the Rebels into third. John Shoemaker (66th, 24:20.8) and Owen Kelley (67th, 24:20.9) essentially crossed the line together in their collegiate cross country debuts to round out the Rebel scoring.
Other Rebel men running Friday were: senior Marco Perez (69th, 24:21.0), sophomore Zack Gilbertson (76th, 24;25.3; PR), senior Gabe Scales (92nd, 24:34.3), sophomore Aidan Hodge (134th, 25:03.5), senior Evan Thornton-Sherman (157th, 25:16.8), junior Landen McNair (190th, 25:39.3) and freshman Samuel Ferguson (201st, 25:45.1).
On the women's side, it was senior Beth Arentz leading the pack once again, finishing the 6K in 28th place at 20:16.2. Arentz has been within 16 seconds of the 20-minute barrier in both of her races at Missouri this season after also leading Ole Miss in 30th place at a career-best 20:03.0 on Sept. 26. Only seven women in recorded Ole Miss cross country history have ever broken 20 minutes in a 6K.
Freshman Leah Penick had another great race behind Arentz, finishing 63rd at a 15-second improvement to 20:41.6. Penick has been among the top three Rebels across the line in each of her three collegiate races so far.
Also on the line for Ole Miss on Friday were: senior Sophie Baumann (85th, 20:57.9), sophomore Ella Johnson (101st, 21:06.6; PR), junior Adie Luna (134th, 21:21.8), junior Brooke Preputnick (162nd, 21:38.3; PR), freshman Addy Mitchell (173rd, 21:42.2), freshman Madison Archdale (188th, 21:48.8), freshman Natalie Duggan (193rd, 21:52.4) and sophomore Hannah Doyle (248th, 22:16.4).
With the regular season now in the rearview, Ole Miss now looks ahead to the postseason. The Rebels will first head to Tennessee for the SEC Championships on Oct. 31 before going to Huntsville, Alabama for the NCAA South Regional on Nov. 14. From there, qualified teams and individuals will return to Missouri for the 2025 NCAA Cross Country Championships on Nov. 22.
Men's 8K Invitational • Team Scores
1. Georgia – 119
2. #19 Missouri – 164
3. #24 Ole Miss – 178
4. Texas – 183
5. Loyola (Ill.) – 192
6. Minnesota – 257
7. Wichita State – 265
8. #22 Arkansas – 270
9. Purdue – 291
10. Florida – 293
20 others
Men's 8K Invitational • Individual Results
4. Kidus Misgina – 23:08.8
11. Toby Gillen – 23:23.4
34. Lukas Ehrle – 23:56.4
66. John Shoemaker – 24:20.8 – Collegiate Debut
67. Owen Kelley – 24:20.9 – Collegiate Debut
69. Marco Perez – 24:21.0 – Ole Miss 8K Debut
76. Zack Gilbertson – 24:25.3 – PR
92. Gabe Scales – 24:34.3
134. Aidan Hodge – 25:03.5
157. Evan Thornton-Sherman – 25:16.8
190. Landen McNair – 25:39.3
201. Samuel Ferguson – 25:45.1 – 8K Debut
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Women's 6K Invitational • Team Scores
1. #1 BYU – 25
2. #19 Villanova – 170
3. #21 Missouri – 216
4. #30 Tennessee – 219
5. Florida State – 255
6. Clemson – 286
7. #23 Boston College – 306
8. Arkansas – 309
9. Liberty – 325
10. Kentucky – 330
11. Mississippi State – 339
12. Texas – 366
13. #3 Florida – 378
14. Ole Miss – 387
24 others
Women's 6K Invitational • Individual Results
28. Beth Arentz – 20:16.2
63. Leah Penick – 20:41.6 – 15-second PR
85. Sophie Baumann – 20:57.9
101. Ella Johnson – 21:06.6 – 8-second PR
134. Adie Luna – 21:21.8
162. Brooke Preputnick – 21:38.3 – 39-second PR
173. Addy Mitchell – 21:42.2
188. Madison Archdale – 21:48.8 – 6K Debut
193. Natalie Duggan – 21:52.4
248. Hannah Doyle – 22:16.4
The 24th-ranked Rebels found themselves in a SEC-centric battle for the top spot in the 8K, eventually settling for third place at 178 points behind Georgia (119) and No. 19 Missouri (164), but ahead of Texas (183). Earlier in the morning, the Ole Miss women were just one spot behind No. 3 Florida (378) in 14th place at 387 points in a powerful 6K competition that featured six ranked teams and a 145-point win by No. 1 BYU (25) over No. 19 Villanova (170).
Junior Kidus Misgina led the charge for the Rebel men again, finishing fourth overall in the 8K at 23:08.8. Misgina was 11th last time out on this course at Mizzou's Gans Creek Classic on Sept. 26, and today he led an Ole Miss scoring charge that featured two top-15 finishers and a spread of one minute and 12 seconds.
Senior Toby Gillen wasn't far behind in 11th place at 23:23.4 for his first complete 8K of the season. Sophomore Lukas Ehrle took 34th at 23:56.4, but it was two freshmen in their first career 8Ks who helped push the Rebels into third. John Shoemaker (66th, 24:20.8) and Owen Kelley (67th, 24:20.9) essentially crossed the line together in their collegiate cross country debuts to round out the Rebel scoring.
Other Rebel men running Friday were: senior Marco Perez (69th, 24:21.0), sophomore Zack Gilbertson (76th, 24;25.3; PR), senior Gabe Scales (92nd, 24:34.3), sophomore Aidan Hodge (134th, 25:03.5), senior Evan Thornton-Sherman (157th, 25:16.8), junior Landen McNair (190th, 25:39.3) and freshman Samuel Ferguson (201st, 25:45.1).
On the women's side, it was senior Beth Arentz leading the pack once again, finishing the 6K in 28th place at 20:16.2. Arentz has been within 16 seconds of the 20-minute barrier in both of her races at Missouri this season after also leading Ole Miss in 30th place at a career-best 20:03.0 on Sept. 26. Only seven women in recorded Ole Miss cross country history have ever broken 20 minutes in a 6K.
Freshman Leah Penick had another great race behind Arentz, finishing 63rd at a 15-second improvement to 20:41.6. Penick has been among the top three Rebels across the line in each of her three collegiate races so far.
Also on the line for Ole Miss on Friday were: senior Sophie Baumann (85th, 20:57.9), sophomore Ella Johnson (101st, 21:06.6; PR), junior Adie Luna (134th, 21:21.8), junior Brooke Preputnick (162nd, 21:38.3; PR), freshman Addy Mitchell (173rd, 21:42.2), freshman Madison Archdale (188th, 21:48.8), freshman Natalie Duggan (193rd, 21:52.4) and sophomore Hannah Doyle (248th, 22:16.4).
With the regular season now in the rearview, Ole Miss now looks ahead to the postseason. The Rebels will first head to Tennessee for the SEC Championships on Oct. 31 before going to Huntsville, Alabama for the NCAA South Regional on Nov. 14. From there, qualified teams and individuals will return to Missouri for the 2025 NCAA Cross Country Championships on Nov. 22.
Men's 8K Invitational • Team Scores
1. Georgia – 119
2. #19 Missouri – 164
3. #24 Ole Miss – 178
4. Texas – 183
5. Loyola (Ill.) – 192
6. Minnesota – 257
7. Wichita State – 265
8. #22 Arkansas – 270
9. Purdue – 291
10. Florida – 293
20 others
Men's 8K Invitational • Individual Results
4. Kidus Misgina – 23:08.8
11. Toby Gillen – 23:23.4
34. Lukas Ehrle – 23:56.4
66. John Shoemaker – 24:20.8 – Collegiate Debut
67. Owen Kelley – 24:20.9 – Collegiate Debut
69. Marco Perez – 24:21.0 – Ole Miss 8K Debut
76. Zack Gilbertson – 24:25.3 – PR
92. Gabe Scales – 24:34.3
134. Aidan Hodge – 25:03.5
157. Evan Thornton-Sherman – 25:16.8
190. Landen McNair – 25:39.3
201. Samuel Ferguson – 25:45.1 – 8K Debut
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Women's 6K Invitational • Team Scores
1. #1 BYU – 25
2. #19 Villanova – 170
3. #21 Missouri – 216
4. #30 Tennessee – 219
5. Florida State – 255
6. Clemson – 286
7. #23 Boston College – 306
8. Arkansas – 309
9. Liberty – 325
10. Kentucky – 330
11. Mississippi State – 339
12. Texas – 366
13. #3 Florida – 378
14. Ole Miss – 387
24 others
Women's 6K Invitational • Individual Results
28. Beth Arentz – 20:16.2
63. Leah Penick – 20:41.6 – 15-second PR
85. Sophie Baumann – 20:57.9
101. Ella Johnson – 21:06.6 – 8-second PR
134. Adie Luna – 21:21.8
162. Brooke Preputnick – 21:38.3 – 39-second PR
173. Addy Mitchell – 21:42.2
188. Madison Archdale – 21:48.8 – 6K Debut
193. Natalie Duggan – 21:52.4
248. Hannah Doyle – 22:16.4
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