LUBBOCK, Texas -- Midwestern State Cross Country took home a podium finish at the 2026 Lone Star Conference Cross Country Championships, hosted by Lubbock Christian. The Mustangs finished 3^rd of 15 teams during the 6K race at the LCU Cross Country Course, scoring 108 points. Midwestern State only finished behind 1^st place No. 8 West Texas A&M (19 points) and 2^nd place No. 25 DBU (72 points).

Grace Pineda was the leader for Midwestern State, as her time of 22:28.5 was good enough for 11^th place to earn LSC All-Conference accolades. Just behind, Perla Flores also gained All-Conference status after a 15^th place finish with a time of 22:52.7.
 
Elizabeth Gregory finished in 20^th during their first career conference meet, clocking a time of 23:15.4. Graduate Student Isabel Hernandez followed behind (23:26.7, 28^th), while Yarida De Leon rounded out the scorers in 38^th, setting a personal best time on the 6K course (23:51.9).
 
Makayla Jetton also provided a career best mark in the 6K race, posting a time of 23:58.9 (41^st). Jazira Perez and Jacie Kainer followed consecutively in 46^th and 47^th place, respectively. Perez completed the 6K course in 24:15.9, while Kainer followed a few tics behind (24:16.8). Lola Hart (24:33.1, 53^rd) and Maggie Neal (25:14.7, 71^st) rounded out the Mustangs competitors, both competing in their first Lone Star Conference Championship meet.
 
The Mustangs move on to the NCAA Regional Championships, hosted in Lubbock, Texas at the LCU Cross Country Course on Nov. 21. The regional meet will bring the best teams of the Lone Star Conference and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC), with automatic qualification for the NCAA Championship meet on the line.