Watch Replay              Final Results

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Jackson State University Men’s Cross Country program claimed their first title since 2022 at the SWAC Championships on Tuesday, October 27, 2026 at Apalachee Regional Park.

Jackson State’s Ryan Achau also claimed the Individual Title pacing the Tigers with a time of 25:09.5 in the Men’s 8K. Bethune-Cookman’s Jayden Santos-Gonzales placed second as the individual runner-up with a time of 25:12.2. The Wildcats had Andrew Kiplagat follow with a third place finish with a time of 25:17.0.

Jackson State led with 41 points as the champions followed by Texas Southern as the runners-up with 51 points. Bethune-Cookman placed third, respectively with 64 points.

Jackson State’s Head Coach, Mark Thorne was named the 2026 SWAC Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year. A complete listing of the 2026 SWAC Men’s Cross Country Individual Awards is listed below.
 
SWAC Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year:
 Mark Thorne, Jackson State
 
SWAC Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Year:
Ryan Achau, Jackson State
 
All-SWAC First Team
Ryan Achau, Jackson State
Jayden Santos-Gonzales, Bethune-Cookman
Andrew Kiplagat, Bethune-Cookman
Jaxson Artisst, Texas Southern
Khanya Yali, Alabama A&M
 
All-SWAC Second Team
Theirry Garcon, Prairie View A&M
Godfrey Kimutai, Jackson State
Manuel Garza, Texas Southern
Collins Kipruto, Jackson State
Eric Lagat, Jackson State
 
About the SWAC
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is considered one of the premier HBCU conferences in the country and currently ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of HBCU alumni playing with professional sports teams.
 
Current championship competition offered by the league includes competition for men in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, and Tennis.

Women’s competition is offered in the sports of Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, and Volleyball.
 
Follow the SWAC
For complete coverage of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, please follow the SWAC on social media at @TheSWAC (Twitter), @TheSWAC (Facebook), and @TheSWAC (Instagram) or visit the official home of the Southwestern Athletic Conference at www.swac.org.