NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee State men's and women's cross country teams will close out their 2026 seasons Friday at the Ohio Valley Conference Cross Country Championships, hosted by Southeast Missouri at the Osage Centre in Cape Girardeau, Mo.

The championship begins with the women's 6K race at 9 a.m. CT, followed by the men's 8K race at 10 a.m. CT. The event marks the first time SEMO has hosted the conference championships since 2018.

The Tigers enter the championship meet following a fall schedule that included competition at the Vanderbilt Opener, Alabama A&M Legacy Series, Michael Pretorius Invitational and Louisville.

Men's Championship Preview

Tennessee State's men's team will compete in the 8K championship race, looking to build on its performances throughout the regular season.

The Tigers highlighted their fall campaign with a first-place team finish at the Alabama A&M Legacy Series, led by several strong individual performances.

Eric Brannon finished second overall in 16:59.3, setting a personal best, while Maxwell Myers placed fifth in 17:39.6. Delton White added a sixth-place finish with a personal-best time of 17:41.1.

Aaron Davis, who was named to the OVC Men's Cross Country Runners to Watch list entering the season, will look to help lead Tennessee State against the conference field.

The Tigers will face a competitive field that includes defending champion UT Martin, which claimed the 2025 men's title following a tiebreaker with Southern Indiana.

Women's Championship Preview

Tennessee State's women's team will take on the conference field in the 6K race, looking to finish the fall season with a strong performance.

The Tigers gained valuable experience throughout the regular season, competing against regional competition in preparation for Friday's championship.

At the Michael Pretorius Invitational, Tennessee State finished fourth in the five-team field with 114 points, placing its five scoring runners 19th, 21st, 23rd, 25th and 26th.

Jurnee Rutherford, who earned recognition on the OVC Women's Cross Country Runners to Watch list ahead of the season, will look to help lead the Tigers in the championship race.

Tennessee Tech enters the event as the defending women's champion after claiming the 2025 conference title by 19 points.

Championship Information

The 2026 OVC Cross Country Championships will take place at the Osage Centre, located at 1625 North Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau, Mo.

Friday, Oct. 30

• Women's 6K Championship – 9 a.m. CT

• Men's 8K Championship – 10 a.m. CT

Live timing and championship information will be available through the OVC championship website.

Championship Central: https://semoredhawks.com/feature/2026OVCCrossCountryChampionships

Live Results: https://milesplit.live/meets/783544/schedule

Tennessee State will look to close its 2026 cross country campaign with strong individual and team performances against the Ohio Valley Conference field.