JOPLIN, Missouri – The Ouachita men's and women's cross country teams wrapped up their seasons with top 20 finishes at the 2023 NCAA Central Regional Championship.
 
The women placed 15^th overall out of 31 teams and the men finished 18^th out of 29 teams.
 
The top runner for the women in the 6K was Macie Cash, who placed 36^th overall with a time of 21:54.63. Cash was third across the line among GAC runners and her time ranks second all-time in program history.
 
Mackenzie Davis was next across the line for the Tigers in 70^th place with a time of 22:33.25. Allison Hylkema followed in 77th place with a time of 22:41.88. Izzi Breaux was close behind in 79th place with a time of 22:42.41, and Lucy Holden placed 92^nd with a time of 23:00.07 to round out the top five runners for the Ouachita women.
 
The women placed third among the GAC programs at the regional meet, beating conference rivals Arkansas Tech and Harding.
 
The men's top runner in the 10K was Gabriel Greenwich with a time of 32:48.20 and an 80^th place finish.
 
The next runner for the men was Evan Armitage, who took 85^th with a time of 32:54.54. The third Tiger across the line was Dylan Dew with a time of 33:09.03 in 97^th place. Cade Swindle followed closely in 99^th with a time of 33:09.80. Noah Embry placed 116^th with a time of 33:35.45 to round out the men's top five runners.
 
The men placed fourth among the GAC programs at the meet, placing ahead of Northwestern Oklahoma State and Southern Nazarene.
 
The Tigers wrap up a successful 2023 season that saw the women runner-up at the 2023 Great American Conference Championships and win the Southern Arkansas and the University of the Ozarks Invitationals.
 
The men had two event winners in Nathan Miller and Evan Armitage at the SAU and Ozarks Invitationals respectively. The men also took fourth place at the 2023 GAC Championships.
 
The women will graduate eight seniors: Becca Beard, Emily Castilaw, Sydney Delgado, Sara Holman, Avery Howard, Jessica Jennings, Nataly Nailing and Taylor Koeth. The men will graduate a single senior in Neal Cole. All of whom have played big parts in the success of the Tiger cross country programs.
 
The Tigers will look to build on the success from this season as they prepare for the upcoming Track & Field season in the Spring. Check back to OBUtigers.com for all updates regarding Tiger Cross Country and Track & Field.