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NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Union University men's cross country team finished in fifth place in the 2026 Gulf South Conference Men's Cross Country Championship. The 8K event took place at The Hermitage in Nashville, Tennessee and featured all 10 GSC men's cross country teams with 90 runners. 

This fifth place finish matched last season's fifth place finish as the best team finish in the GSC era. Its time of 2:06:45 set a program record for the best 8K team time, edging the old record from earlier this season by 29 seconds. 

Union senior Aaron Fynaardt matched the program's best individual finish in the GSC era with a fifth place finish in this year's meet, tying Justine Kipkoech's fifth place finish at the 2017 GSC meet. He improved on his eight place finish at the GSC Championships in 2025, earning his second straight first team All-GSC honor.

However, Fynaardt also set a program record with the fastest 8K time, posting the first ever sub-24 minute time at 23:59 for the 8K event. Fynaardt currently holds six of the top seven times in program history. His record setting performance in this year's GSC Championship was 11 seconds faster than Henry Rop's previous top-mark at 24:10 from 2007. 

Union first-year head coach Tristan Kelly said, "I am truly amazed by the performances from our guys. Aaron has been working his absolute tail off for the last three years to get to this point. Seeing him earn what he deserves by becoming the fastest runner in Union history and finishing in the top five in the GSC is really special. As a former Union athlete, I cannot help but be in awe of the standard and caliber this team is developing. We still have a lot of room to grow, but I am very proud of this team."

Jonathan Lewis, a freshman for the Bulldogs, posted a 23rd place finish, missing the top-20 and second team All-GSC honors by just three spots and six seconds. His time of 24:59 tied him for 10th place on Union's all-time 8K list. 

Joseph Hamilton finished 33rd, Luke Winkleman 50th, Jude Sparkman 52nd, Clark French, 62nd, Anderson Mathias 77th, Riley Garrison 82nd, Caleb Santhosh 83rd, and Kaydan Patterson 90th. 

Up next for Union will be the NCAA D2 South Region Championship, November 21, at John Hunt Park in Huntsville, Alabama. 

-UNION-