CLINTON, Miss. | Freshman Ryan Achau won the men's 5k as the Jackson State University men's and women's cross country teams kicked off the 2026 campaign at the MC Opener at Choctaw Trails on Friday night.

Both teams finished in the top five of their respective races, with an all-around effort that bested several teams, including conference opponents Alcorn State and Mississippi Valley State, as well as Tougaloo and Millsaps.

MEN'S TEAM SCORES
1) Mississippi Christian - 36; 2) ULM - 59; 3) Mobile - 98; 4) MC Alumni - 114; 5) Jackson State - 131; 6) William Carey -148; 7) Millsaps - 175; 8) Meridian - 209; 9) Alcorn State - 255; 10 - Tougaloo - 278; 11) Mississippi Valley State - 323.

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
1) Ryan Achau (Jackson State) 15:05.3; 2) Kgaogelo Moloisi (ULM) 15:09.3; 3) Cooper Osmus (Mobiule) 15:21.0; 4) Baxter Friedman (MC) 15:30.5; 5) Matthew Singletary (MC) 15:31.5; 6) Joshua Gill (ULM) 15:32.5; 7) Matthew McGuire (William Carey) 15:41.2; 8) Andrew Kilgore (MC) 15:42.3; 9) Jackson Dickerson (Unattached) 15:44.2; 10) Tristan Bryan (MC) 15:44.2.

JACKSON STATE INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
1) Ryan Achau - 15:05.3; 28) Duncan Koima - 16:16.6; 37) Eric Lagat - 16:30.0; 43) Collins Kibet- 17:02.4; 79) Derrick Eskridge- 19:55.4.

WOMEN'S TEAM SCORES
1) ULM - 29; 2) Mississippi Christian - 49; 3) MC Alumni - 62; 4) William Carey - 92; 5) Jackson State - 163; 6) Mobile -177; 7) Meridian CC - 182; 8) Delta State - 245; 9) Alcorn State - 249; 10 - Belhaven - 256; 11) Millsaps - 268; 12) Mississippi Valley State - 308.

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
1) Tuva Sandberg (ULM) 18:07.4; 2) Maria Nikolaou (ULM) 18:41.0; 3) Catherine Wallace (MC) 18:43.7; 4) Audrey Mayatte (MC) 18:58.9; 5) Breann Klei (MC Alumni) 19:02.8; 6) Krisitina Stojanovic (William Carey) 19:05.1 7) Rebekka Flotho (ULM) 19:11.2; 8) Maya Nobles (ULM) 19:15.9; 9) Lauren Hodson (MC Alumni) 19:18.5; 10) Taylor Benoit (MC Alumni) 19:19.0.

JACKSON STATE INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
20) Lorine Jelagat - 20:05.0; 24) Sya Bolden - 20:51.8; 33) Karina Griffin - 21:35.2; 42) Kaylin Jackson - 22:45.5; 65) Kimani Tindal - 25:23.4. 

MEET NOTES
- Achau is the second Tiger to win the MC Opener in consecutive years, with Godfrey Kimuati winning it last season.
- The men improved their team score from last season, going from seven to five this year.
- The women recorded two runners in the top 25, including freshman Sya Bolden, who ran her first collegiate race.

UP NEXT
The Tigers return to action at the ULM Cross Country Invitational in Monroe, La., on Friday, Sept. 25. 

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