The University of Mississippi Athletics
Men’s Cross Country Opens Season Ranked No. 27 in USTFCCCA Preseason Poll
8/27/2025 | Cross Country
NEW ORLEANS – Ole Miss men's cross country will open the 2025 season as a nationally ranked squad, coming in at No. 27 in the USTFCCCA Preseason National Coaches Poll.
This marks the 63rd all-time appearance in the national cross country poll for the Rebel men, with all 63 coming since the 2014 season. Additionally, this is the ninth preseason appearance for Ole Miss on the men's side, the third in the last four seasons under cross country coach Adam Smith.
The Rebel men return three members from its national qualifying squad in 2024 that finished 25th at the NCAA Championships while also finishing second at the NCAA South Regional and third in the SEC Championships. Leading the charge is NCAA All-South Region senior Toby Gillen, who returns for his final season of competition after wrapping a superb track career this past spring.
Fellow returners include All-SEC senior Evan Thornton-Sherman and fellow senior Gabe Scales, while the Rebel men welcome in talented newcomers such as Marco Perez (Cal State Fullerton). Kidus Misgina, who joined the Rebel track & field program in January, will make his Ole Miss cross country debut this fall after shattering the school 10K record outdoors back in April.
In the SEC preseason coaches poll released earlier this week, the Rebel men were picked to finish third once again while receiving one first-place vote among the league coaches.
The No. 27 Ole Miss men, as well as the Rebel women, are set to open the 2025 season this Saturday night (Aug. 30) at the Memphis Twilight.
This marks the 63rd all-time appearance in the national cross country poll for the Rebel men, with all 63 coming since the 2014 season. Additionally, this is the ninth preseason appearance for Ole Miss on the men's side, the third in the last four seasons under cross country coach Adam Smith.
The Rebel men return three members from its national qualifying squad in 2024 that finished 25th at the NCAA Championships while also finishing second at the NCAA South Regional and third in the SEC Championships. Leading the charge is NCAA All-South Region senior Toby Gillen, who returns for his final season of competition after wrapping a superb track career this past spring.
Fellow returners include All-SEC senior Evan Thornton-Sherman and fellow senior Gabe Scales, while the Rebel men welcome in talented newcomers such as Marco Perez (Cal State Fullerton). Kidus Misgina, who joined the Rebel track & field program in January, will make his Ole Miss cross country debut this fall after shattering the school 10K record outdoors back in April.
In the SEC preseason coaches poll released earlier this week, the Rebel men were picked to finish third once again while receiving one first-place vote among the league coaches.
The No. 27 Ole Miss men, as well as the Rebel women, are set to open the 2025 season this Saturday night (Aug. 30) at the Memphis Twilight.
Players Mentioned
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/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
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