Wildcat XC Travels to Kentucky for UAC Championships

Friday, October 30

Richmond, Ky.

W: 8 a.m. (CT) | M: 8:45 a.m. (CT)

Abilene Christian

UAC Cross Country Championships

Emma Santoro runs in the 2026 Naimadu Classic on Sept. 4, 2026.

Photo by: Luke White

10/28/2026 10:11:00 AM | Cross Country

Championship Central WATCH: Women's Race WATCH: Men's Race

By: Don Garrett

RICHMOND, Ky. - The Abilene Christian cross country teams will compete in the first United Athletic Conference Championships, hosted by Eastern Kentucky, on Friday.

The women's 5K race begins at 8 a.m. with the men's 8K starting at 8:45 a.m. The races will be broadcast on ESPN+ and live results can be found on the UAC Cross Country Championship page.

The Wildcats have seen steady improvement with virtually the entire group consistently running personal bests during the season. This Friday, the men will be represented by Mark Barajas, Vincent Luffey, Matthew Engle, Benjamin Castro, Austin Roberts, Evan Martin, and Max Power (running in his first meet as a Wildcat). The men's team will be looking to improve upon their 5th place finish in the WAC Cross Country Championship in 2025.

The ACU women's team will have eight runners entered – Saylor Stevenson, Hannah Kasper, Anna Vyn, Emma Santoro, Sidney Windham, Madelyn McFadden, Alyssa Quinones, and Hanna Zweibel. The women will look to improve over their 6th place finish in last season's WAC meet.

Eastern Kentucky, which was chosen as the top pick for both men and women in the preseason poll, will enter the meet as favorites in both races.

The Colonels are the only nationally ranked team in the UAC, as the EKU men's team ranks #17 in the national polls. EKU men's team is ranked #2 in the Southeast Region and is led by Taha Er Raouy (a two-time UAC Runner of the Week this season), Cosmas Kiprop (the UAC Runner of the Week in the first week of the season), Dillon Millard (a two-time UAC Freshman of the Week) and Abel Kirui (the UAC Freshman of the Week in week 4). The EKU women's team is currently ranked #8 in the Southeast Region. They are led by Edna Chelulei, the winner of the Arturo Barrios Invitational in College Station, and freshman Brighter Jepchumba, who won Indiana State's John McNichols Invitational.

The other UAC team ranked in regional rankings is UT Arlington, who's women's team is ranked #8 in the South Central Region and men's team is ranked #14 in that same region. The Maverick men will be lead by Toby Eaton and the women are led by Dorcas Jepkosgei - both were honored as the UAC Runners of the Week in week 3.

Coach Wayne Angel on the conference meet:

"I couldn't be more excited about these two teams and what they have the opportunity to accomplish this Friday! We've seen tremendous growth throughout the season with our athletes consistently setting personal bests. The men have a chance to make history with ACU's best conference finish since moving from Division II to Division I. The women are positioned to compete for a top 5 finish.

"What makes me most proud is the commitment, belief and team chemistry these groups have built along the way. They've put in the work, and they believe in each other. We are excited to represent ACU, and we're so grateful for the support that makes opportunities like this possible."