Wingate Captures Sixth Consecutive SAC Crown
WINGATE, N.C. (Nov. 7, 2026) – Wingate University captured the 2026 South Atlantic Conference Women's Cross Country Championship on Saturday morning at the Wingate Cross Country Course, placing five runners inside the top 10 to finish with 26 points.
The Bulldogs delivered a dominant performance, finishing 25 points ahead of runner-up Catawba, which totaled 51 points. Lincoln Memorial rounded out the top three with 111 points, followed by Anderson (119) and Carson-Newman (120).
Wingate senior Evie Brooks claimed the individual championship and SAC Runner of the Year honors, completing the women's 6K course in 20:33.67. Teammate Jacqueline Sanchez finished second in 20:42.90, giving the Bulldogs the top two individual finishers.
Anderson's Kennedy Roush placed third in 20:54.29, while Wingate freshman Guillemette Vincent finished fourth in 21:11.48 to earn SAC Freshman of the Year honors as the highest-finishing freshman in the championship.
Carson-Newman's Keirieonna Wilson rounded out the top five with a time of 21:14.91.
Wingate's championship effort also included Karlijn Mesman in ninth (21:30.04) and Baia Touza in 10th (21:36.85). The Bulldogs placed all five scoring runners among the top 10, with just 1:03.18 separating their first and fifth finishers.
Catawba also produced an impressive showing, placing five runners in the top 14. Hannah Caudill led the Indians with a sixth-place finish (21:18.22), followed by Mandi Pollard in eighth (21:26.94), Morgan Pollard in 11th (21:36.86), Eden Barnwell in 12th (21:48.93) and Justine Sanchez in 14th (22:04.92).
Lincoln Memorial secured third place behind Greta Chizzali, who finished 18th in 22:11.49.
2026 SAC Women's Cross Country Team Standings
| Place |
Institution |
Points |
| 1 |
Wingate |
26 |
| 2 |
Catawba |
51 |
| 3 |
Lincoln Memorial |
111 |
| 4 |
Anderson |
119 |
| 5 |
Carson-Newman |
120 |
| 6 |
Mars Hill |
164 |
| 7 |
Lenoir-Rhyne |
185 |
| 8 |
Tusculum |
243 |
| 9 |
UVA Wise |
261 |
| 10 |
Emory & Henry |
283 |
| 11 |
Newberry |
320 |
| 12 |
Coker |
344 |
SAC Individual Awards
SAC Runner of the Year: Evie Brooks, Wingate – 20:33.67
SAC Freshman of the Year: Guillemette Vincent, Wingate – 21:11.48
SAC Coach of the Year: Pol Domenech, Wingate
First Team All-SAC
| Finish |
Student-Athlete |
Institution |
Time |
| 1 |
Evie Brooks |
Wingate |
20:33.67 |
| 2 |
Jacqueline Sanchez |
Wingate |
20:42.90 |
| 3 |
Kennedy Roush |
Anderson |
20:54.29 |
| 4 |
Guillemette Vincent |
Wingate |
21:11.48 |
| 5 |
Keirieonna Wilson |
Carson-Newman |
21:14.91 |
| 6 |
Hannah Caudill |
Catawba |
21:18.22 |
| 7 |
Jenna Pittman |
Carson-Newman |
21:26.18 |
Second Team All-SAC
| Finish |
Student-Athlete |
Institution |
Time |
| 8 |
Mandi Pollard |
Catawba |
21:26.94 |
| 9 |
Karlijn Mesman |
Wingate |
21:30.04 |
| 10 |
Baia Touza |
Wingate |
21:36.85 |
| 11 |
Morgan Pollard |
Catawba |
21:36.86 |
| 12 |
Eden Barnwell |
Catawba |
21:48.93 |
| 13 |
Imane Jourji |
Wingate |
22:00.95 |
| 14 |
Justine Sanchez |
Catawba |
22:04.92 |
Third Team All-SAC
| Finish |
Student-Athlete |
Institution |
Time |
| 15 |
Sophie Ratcliff |
Mars Hill |
22:06.60 |
| 16 |
Daya Ross |
Catawba |
22:09.26 |
| 17 |
Lena Llamas |
Wingate |
22:10.85 |
| 18 |
Greta Chizzali |
Lincoln Memorial |
22:11.49 |
| 19 |
Amparo Herrera |
Wingate |
22:12.66 |
| 20 |
Selah Woodworth |
Anderson |
22:13.89 |
| 21 |
Lola Korth |
Mars Hill |
22:15.43 |
SAC All-Freshman Team
The five highest-finishing freshmen earned SAC All-Freshman Team recognition, led by Freshman of the Year Guillemette Vincent.
| Overall Finish |
Student-Athlete |
Institution |
Time |
| 4 |
Guillemette Vincent |
Wingate |
21:11.48 |
| 16 |
Daya Ross |
Catawba |
22:09.26 |
| 17 |
Lena Llamas |
Wingate |
22:10.85 |
| 19 |
Amparo Herrera |
Wingate |
22:12.66 |
| 20 |
Selah Woodworth |
Anderson |
22:13.89 |
The championship concludes the conference portion of the cross country season as SAC programs turn their attention to NCAA postseason competition.