Men's Cross Country | September 11, 2025
OAKWOOD, Ga. – The Clayton State University men's and women's cross country teams open its 2025 season on Friday evening. The Lakers are looking to start their season off right and see some growth from last season's successful season.
MEET INFORMATION
- Meet Name: UNG XC Invitational
- Host: University of North Georgia | UNG XC Course | Oakwood, Ga.
- Race Times: Men's 8K: 5:45 p.m. | Women's 5K: 6:30 p.m.
- Live Results
LET'S TAKE A LOOK BACK
The Laker women's cross country team had a solid 2024 season and finished 7
th in the Conference Championships. As a team, the Lakers saw their best finish in the GMC Brickyard Invitational as they placed fourth. On the men's side, the Lakers saw much success in 2024. In last season's conference championships, the men finished in fourth, which is their best finish since 2011. Overall, the Lakers turned in three, top four finishes including a pair of third place finishes.
IMPACT RUNNERS
This season the Lakers are led on the women's side by
Ivorie Smith,
Jada Warren, and
Marley Tate. Smith and Tate finished in the top three on the team in each race last season with Ivorie finishing first in the GMC Brickyard Invitational and Tate leading the team in the GT XC Invitational. Warren, who transferred back to Clayton State after a season at Georgia College, returns as one of the top runners in recent history. In her first two seasons, she led all 10 races she ran. Warren finished on top of the individual leaderboard at the 2023 GMC Brickyard Invitational making her first Laker since 2018 to win a meet. The ladies have a lot of senior leadership back and are looking on improving from last season. The PBC coaches picked the Lakers to finish sixth in the conference.
The Lakers, on the men's side, are led by
Camron Gaddis,
Rakiem Barnes,
Nehemiah Horton, and
Emanuel Dixon. Gaddis led the Lakers in all six races last season and saw his season best time come at the Royals XC Challenge with a time of 26:11.9. Barnes and Dixon follow closely behind Gaddis. Rakiem and Emanuel finished in the top three on the team in all six races last season. They are looking to improve upon an impressive 2024 campaign. Horton comes into this season after a remarkable track season where he was an Indoor All-Conference honoree. Horton clocked his best time at the Royals XC Challenge with a time of 28:01.4. This season, the PBC coaches picked the Lakers to finish fourth only behind Augusta, Flagler, and Georgia College.
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