Chattanooga Teams Finished South Region Meet
The men’s and women’s cross country teams placed 19th and 20th respectively at the regional competition.
Updated on Sept. 19, 2026 in Track & Field
Chattanooga cross country squads faced stiff competition at the South Region meet on September 18, 2026. The men’s team finished 19th overall, while the women’s team took 20th place.
Why it matters
The regional meet serves as a critical benchmark for teams to evaluate their performance against top-tier conference rivals. Establishing these times early in the season helps coaches refine training strategies ahead of upcoming invitationals.
Leila Hailey completed the women’s 5K in 17:31.1, while Jack Martin clocked 25:27.3 in the men’s 8K. Alabama secured both the men’s and women’s team titles at the event.
The players
Leila Hailey
She is a member of the Chattanooga cross country team who finished 29th in the 5K race.
Jack Martin
He is a distance runner for the Chattanooga men's cross country team.
Dismus Lokira
He is the individual champion who won the men's 8K title at the regional meet.
Caren Kiplagat
She is the individual champion who won the women's 5K title at the regional meet.
The details
Leila Hailey led the women’s side with a 29th-place finish, while Jack Martin took 82nd for the men. Individual titles were claimed by Dismus Lokira with a time of 23:08.8 and Caren Kiplagat with a 15:41.4 mark.
Timeline
September 18, 2026: The teams competed in the South Region meet.
October 2, 2026: Both teams will participate in the Georgia Tech Invitational.
Season Trajectory
These results fit into the broader NCAA cross country championship qualification path. The team's performance establishes their current standing within the regional hierarchy and influences their path toward postseason contention.
The 19th and 20th place finishes serve as a baseline for the team's standing in future rankings. Performance markers like Hailey’s 17:31.1 time will be used to calibrate expectations for the upcoming Georgia Tech Invitational.
The takeaway
Consistent participation in regional meets is vital for developing endurance and pacing skills against high-level competition. Tracking these times allows athletes to measure their progress throughout the training season.
What happens next
Both teams are scheduled to compete at the Georgia Tech Invitational on October 2, 2026.
Further reading
For more updates on local results, visit the Track & Field section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Chattanoogan.
