KNOXVILLE, Tenn. –Truett McConnell University Cross Country completed their final meet before the 2026 Appalachian Athletic Conference Championships at the Fighting Scots Invitational in Knoxville, Tenn. on Friday.
 
The College Women's 6K was the first event of the evening and was highlighted by a 10^th place finish by sophomore Riley Stevens who covered the distance in just 24 minutes and seven seconds. Naomi Stonesifer and Addison Brown followed up Steven's performance as the next two Lady Bears to cross the line, finishing the race in tandem with a 27:29.4 and 27:30.5 respectively. Yazmeilyn Diaz and Josslyn Munn also netted points towards the team's total of 157, good for seventh in the competition.
 
Men's cross country followed with six Bears featured in the top 33 runners in the College Men's 8K. Obadiah Kipruto logged his fourth top five finish in five races with a fourth-place result at 26:13.4. He has also finished in the top ten in every race this season. Sophomore Brando Araujo claimed 17^th place less than a minute later with a 27:13.1. Derek Abate, John Ball, Alex Brannon, Connor Morgan and Gibson Horner all crossed the line shortly after to serve as the rest of the points-scorers for Truett McConnell as the top seven Bears all finished amongst the first 41 runners, securing the team fourth place out of twelve teams with just 108 points.
 
Truett McConnell cross country looks to continue their strong season with another weekend of success on Nov. 6 at the AAC Championships in Knoxville, Tenn.