SAN MARCOS, Texas - Texas State cross country officially starts the 2025 season on Friday in San Antonio for the annual UIW Twilight.
The Bobcats, under cross country head coach Randle Grizzle, return to action after a successful 2024 season for both the Texas State men's and women's teams.
At the 2024 Sun Belt Conference Cross Country Championships, the Texas State men's and women's teams each earned a fifth-place finish.
This marked the first time since 2019 that both teams finished inside the top five at the SBC Cross Country Championships. It was also the first time since 2020 that a Bobcat from both the men's and women's teams earned All-Sun Belt honors at the same meet, with Koket Jimata and
Abigail Parra each securing All-Sun Belt Third Team honors.
The Bobcats would go on to send eight athletes to the 2024 NCAA South Central Regional in College Station, Texas. Abigail Parra placed 52nd in the women's 6K, while
Henok Hagos finished 66th in the men's 10K.
The 2025 cross country roster is composed of experienced and returning talent on both the men's and women's teams.
On the men's side, the Bobcats return a strong core in Anthony Parra (Sr.),
Jack Deelman (Jr.), and
Henok Hagos (So.), all of whom set personal bests in the men's 10k at last year's NCAA South Central Regional.
The women's 4K race will open the 2025 season at 8:50 p.m. at the UIW Twilight, while the men's 6K race will begin at 9:15 p.m.
2025 Sun Belt Conference Men's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. App State (7) – 79
2. Arkansas State (2) – 72
3. Texas State – 54
4. South Alabama – 53
5. Marshall – 40
6. Louisiana – 36
7. ULM – 32
8. Coastal Carolina – 26
9. Troy – 13
2025 Sun Belt Conference Women's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. App State (10) – 165
2. Arkansas State (2) – 147
3. Marshall – 139
4. Texas State - 120
5. Louisiana – 113
6. Coastal Carolina – 107
7. James Madison – 94
8. Southern Miss (1) – 87
9. South Alabama – 68
10. Troy – 50
11. ULM – 43
12. Georgia Southern – 35
13. Georgia State – 15
