The Trinity men and women’s cross country teams, who both won the 2025 Southern Athletic Association (SAA) championship, headed into the NCAA regionals on Nov. 15 in Claremont, Calif. The women’s team placed fourth in the NCAA Division III regionals, securing a national championship berth while the men’s team finished eighth overall, unable to advance.
Weather was the talking point heading into regionals. Southern California dealt with flash flooding throughout the weekend, seeing almost three inches of rain and presenting the course with muddy conditions and deep puddles of water. First-year runner George Mikhael finished eighth in the men’s 8K at the SAA championship and expressed hope before the race despite the weather conditions.
“We’re in Texas, so we’re already acclimated to the weather pretty well, but I think this coming race, the weather’s going to be good for it,” Mikheal said. “It has rained a bit, so the course might be a little wet and stormy, but I think the weather’s going to be good.”
Mikhael placed 74th overall out of 172 participants in the men’s DIII regionals. Senior runner Nathaniel Trevino led the Tigers, placing 33rd with a time of 26:17.80. Looking ahead, Mikhael spoke on his aspirations in his coming years at Trinity.
“I’m really excited to get the [incoming] first-years and have them on the team and be able to guide them like how the upperclassmen guided us,” Mikheal said. “I’m also excited to do bigger things and progress, like hopefully take on a bigger role in the team.”
On the women’s side, senior Gianna Keena led the way, finishing 21st overall out of 162 participants, clocking in a 22:49.90 performance. Keena said that the course they ran at, Strehle Track, was notorious for its rough terrain.
“[The women’s team] got to the course after the guys had already raced,” Keena said. “By that point, there was — in some places, I would say — at least two feet of water. Just in the lower areas of the course, there was no more grass, it was all just mud. But it made it more challenging.”
Sophomore runner Kate Boone finished a few positions behind Keena, placing 29th. Boone’s 22:56.70 performance earned her the first All-Region honor of her collegiate career, the result of hard work she said feels good to see pay off.
“We’ve been working extremely hard all season, all through the summer [and] everything,” Boone said. “It’s extremely rewarding to get the opportunity to go to nationals. We’re really excited [and] looking forward to it.”
The NCAA announced the Division III at-large bids for nationals on Nov. 16, confirming that the women’s team will advance to compete for a national title. This is their first championship berth in eight years. Sophomore Anne Snider, who finished 37th in regionals, said it meant something for her to compete at a national level as an underclassman.
“I’m definitely really excited just to go up to the next level and continue running with my team and everything,” Snider said. “Just getting to compete against all the other Division III schools across the nation is a really cool experience.”
Keena is a senior, and she expressed excitement for this experience in her final year at Trinity. She said that she wants to make the most of the moment and enjoy competing at the upcoming nationals.
“Qualifying for nationals is something that I’ve wanted for myself and for the team since I got to Trinity,” Keena said. “It’s just been so perfect that this season has been the one for the women’s team. It just feels like everything’s come to fruition.”
The women’s team will travel to Spartanburg, S.C. and compete for a national championship on Nov. 22 at Erskine College’s Roger Milliken Center.
