Tulane University cross country competed in the American Athletic Conference Championship in Lakeland, Florida on Oct. 29. The AAC Championship was the fourth race the team ran in this season, and they will compete in the NCAA South Central Regional on Nov. 12 in Waco, Texas.

The team began the season at the North Alabama Showcase, where the Alabama Crimson Tide rolled over all competition on the men’s side, and the Rebels of Ole Miss were a step faster on women’s. For Tulane, the women’s team finished middle of the pack, 12th out of 21. The men’s team fared much worse, finishing 14th out of 17.

The Green Wave bounced back in the next race, with both the men’s and women’s team finishing first at the Nicholls X-C invitational. On the women’s side, senior Therese Olshanski led the way, finishing second-best overall. For the men, junior Evans Kipchumba was Tulane’s best runner, also finishing in second. 

After the race, Director of Cross Country Adrian Myers said “Any time you can pick up a team win at the college level you have to celebrate it. This is huge progress for our program and the direction we are heading right now. I couldn’t be happier with them.”

On Oct. 16, Tulane traveled to College Station, Texas to compete in the Arturo Barrios Invitational hosted by Texas A&M. On the men’s side, the Green Wave finished 27th out of 33, with their fastest runner, Kipchumba, fast enough for 93rd overall. The women’s team fared slightly better, managing 24th of 33 in team rankings. Olshanski impressed in this race, finishing 23rd overall.

Less than two weeks later, the Green Wave were running at the AAC championship in Florida. Disappointingly, both the men’s and women’s teams finished last. Once again, Olshanski impressed on the women’s side, finishing 10th overall and only six seconds behind the race winner. Kipchumba led the men’s side, finishing 22nd overall.

This weekend, the Green Wave will look to bounce back at the NCAA South Central Regional.