MACON, Ga. | The Georgia College & State University women's cross country team opened their 2026 season with a third-place finish at the MGA/Julius Johnson Invitational hosted by Mercer University Saturday (Sept. 5) morning.

The Bobcats, who are ranked seventh in the preseason U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Division II Southeast Region poll, scored 81 points in the meet. The host Bears won the meet with a perfect score of 15, while Columbus State University was second with 72 points.

Kaela Kearney was the top runner for the Bobcats with a time of 21.27.5 on the 5K layout on the Georgia Premier Cross Country Course to finish in 12th place, while teammate Emma Jow was right behind her in 13th place with a time of 21.33.1. Avery Sams and Madeline Harron earned top-20 finishes for GCSU. Sams was 16th with a time of 21.52.1, while Harron came in 20th with a time of 22.06.1. Paxton Kirby was 23rd with a time of 22.18.1 and was followed by Maddie Reese Smith (22.37.1, 30th), Sadie Edris (22.37.1, 31st), Kenley Adams (22.37.9, 32nd), Izzy Hall (22.41.1, 35th) and Campbell Smith (23.31.5, 41st).

The Bobcats return to action Friday (Sept. 6) when they compete at the Queens City Invitational at 6 p.m. in Charlotte, North Carolina.

About GCSU Athletics 
Owning the top Academic Success Rate among all public colleges and universities in Division II for five consecutive academic years, the Georgia College Department of Athletics sponsors 13 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. GCSU Athletics has won six consecutive Presidents' Awards for Academic Excellence, and are two-time winners of the PBC Commissioner's Cup and six-time winners of the PBC Institution of the Year Sportsmanship Award. As a Division II program, Bobcat Athletics prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the teams' continued appearances in postseason competition as well as high-level academic success and community-service involvement. Bobcat Athletics embodies the mantra of "Graduating Champions for Life." Sign up at @GCSUBobcats on all social media outlets for up-to-the-minute reports or subscribe to the GSCU Athletics e-newsletter to receive the latest news, schedule updates and to interact with GCSU Athletics.