On Oct. 25, the Union University men’s and women’s cross-country teams set program records at the 2025 Gulf South Conference Championship in Memphis, Tennessee. The championship event featured a men’s 8K race and a women’s 6K race at Shelby Farms.
Both the men’s and women’s teams finished in fifth place, setting program records of 2 hours, 7 minutes, 49 seconds for the men’s and 1 hour, 53 minutes, 32 seconds for the women’s. The teams’ hard work this season paid off at the conference championship.
Junior cellular and molecular biology major, Aaron Fynaardt, finished in eighth place, setting a personal record in the 8K with a time of 24 minutes, 16 seconds, second in Union’s history only to a 2007 record set by Henry Rop.
“Aaron is my roommate, so I’m seeing the work he’s putting in. He’s a monster,” said Stewart Brown, a sports management major and cross-country team member.
Junior cellular and molecular biology major, Addi Aguayo, finished in second place, setting Union’s women’s top individual record by more than a minute for the 6K with a personal time of 20 minutes, 32 seconds.
Aguayo explained her approach to the championship, saying she was surprised by her results this weekend:
“The back half of the course was pretty difficult — straight down hill and then straight up hill. That’s when I decided I should just pass them on the uphill. I was not expecting to get second, since some of the girls I was racing, I knew their stats before coming in.”
Several more achievements were made on the women’s team. Victoria Markham, an elementary education major, finished in 15 minutes, marking the third-best time in school history. Ayla Young Cook, a pre-professional Studies in Biology major, was named GSC Champion Scholar.
Brown recalled a pep talk at the beginning of the season, attributing much of this season’s success to a team motto for the year: “What’s your 1% this week?”
“We’re going to sacrifice the little things,” team members said.
The NCAA Division II South Region Championship is just around the corner on Nov. 8, and Brown thinks Fynaardt has a reasonable chance at qualifying for nationals.
As the women’s team begins preparing for regionals, Aguayo reflected on the season.
“Most people are feeling tired. But I’m really expecting good things from regionals. I just have to stay in it these next couple of weeks.”
With record times and growing confidence, the Bulldogs look ready to carry their momentum into the regional championship.
