On Oct. 17, the Union University Men’s and Women’s cross-country teams had record-breaking performances in the Watson Cross Country Classic in Clinton, Mississippi. The event, hosted by Mississippi College, featured a men’s 8K race and a women’s 6K race at Choctaw Trails.
The men’s team finished third out of 24 teams, logging the best team time in program history at two hours, nine minutes, 22 seconds, breaking the record formerly set in 2018. Junior cellular and molecular biology major Aaron Fynaardt had a standout performance in the 8K, posting a second-overall finish and earning the second-best time in program history at 24 minutes, 31 seconds.
The women’s team also brought home some awards, placing second out of 19 teams with the third-best time in program history. Junior cellular and molecular biology major Addi Aguayo secured a first-place win in the 6K with a record-setting time of 21 minutes, 37 seconds. Junior elementary education major Victoria Markham finished in fourth with the third-best 6K time in program history at 22 minutes, 9 seconds.
Sophomore cellular and molecular biology major Sophie Crisler said the team’s mission statement was essential to their success this weekend and in throughout the season as a whole.
“Our ethos statement this year is Commitment to Excellence, Sacrifice for Solidarity, and our team verse this year is Acts 20:24,” Crisler said. “This program, our coaches and my brothers and sisters seek to accomplish this ethos statement and verse at every early-morning practice, strength training session and race and, honestly, through our daily lives.”
Crisler noted how the team’s culture is rooted in selflessness, driving their commitment to be successful as a whole.
“It’s also really special to be part of this program and witness all the different ways we are sacrificing for solidarity for our teammates,” Crisler said. “These sacrifices aren’t something that many others outside of our program get to witness, but I think that’s part of what makes this team so special as we seek to love each other in a self-sacrificial way modeled by Christ.”
As the cross-country season is coming to a close, the Union Bulldogs will race again on Oct. 25 in the 2025 Gulf South Conference Cross Country Championship at Shelby Farms in Memphis, Tennessee.