INFO | USTFCCCA men's poll, October 8 edition
INFO | USTFCCCA women's poll, October 8 edition
 
New Orleans, La.----The Wingate University men's cross country team is No. 2 in the most recent NCAA Division II U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) coaches' poll. The Wingate women's XC team is No. 6. The Bulldog squads occupy the No. 1 spot in the Southeast Region rankings for both women and men.
 
The Bulldogs are the defending South Atlantic Conference and Southeast Region champions in both men's and women's cross country. The Wingate men finished second at the '24 national championship meet after winning the NCAA title in '23. The Bulldog women claimed eighth place at NCAAs in 2023 and 2024.

What They Are Saying
Wingate head cross country coach Pol Domenech
 
WOMEN: "The women put together one of the best team performances ever by this program. This fact gives us confidence to tackle the rest of the season…and try to be even better in November."
 
MEN: "We were extremely pleased with the men's result last weekend at Lehigh. It gave us so much information, so we can improve moving forward. What is clear is that we will have a big fight in November. We will be ready."
 
51st annual Paul Short Run quick recaps
 
WOMEN: Wingate finished 16th in the 40-team Paul Short Run College Gold Division. The Bulldogs recorded 473 points to claim honors as the top non-NCAA Division I school in the Gold field. Sophomore Firdaouss Hriche led the 'Dogs with her time of 20:48.9. Hriche's time is a personal-best, shattering her previous mark by 39 seconds. Freshman twins Kiara and Abigail Bester were next on the WU charts. Kiara recorded a time of 21:16.0, while Abigail posted a time of 21:16.2.
 
MEN: The Bulldogs finished fifth in the 40-team Paul Short Run College Gold Division. The Bulldogs posted 181 points to claim honors as the top non-NCAA Division I school in the Gold field. Wingate had two student-athletes in the Gold Division 8K top 25. Junior Joaquin Campos finished 16th with his personal-best time of 23:31.4, while senior Antonin Saint-Peyre took 25th place with his time of 23:49.0.
 
On the horizon for Wingate XC
 
Both Wingate teams will compete in the Queens University of Charlotte Royals XC Challenge Friday at McAlpine Creek Park. The South Atlantic Conference meet is Saturday, October 25, hosted by the Tusculum University Pioneers. The NCAA Division II Southeast Regional championships are Saturday, November 8 in Wingate.
 
Wingate University
 
Wingate University is a lab of difference-making that serves more than 3,400 students in North Carolina and offers 60 degree pathways, including 37 undergraduate majors, 10 pre-professional tracks and five dual-degree programs. Graduate students choose from seven master's and five doctoral programs. The University is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences, the Levine College of Health Sciences, the Byrum School of Business, the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences.
 
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a leader in healthcare education where nearly one in five undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or nurse. Student-athletes on Wingate's 30 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award the past 17 times it has been awarded. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at www.wingate.edu.
 
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