Baylor opened its cross country season Friday night in College Station with both teams landing in the top four at the Aggie Opener, and the women came away third while the men finished fourth at the Watts Cross Country Course.
The women were paced by junior Ella Perry, who took ninth in the two-mile run in 11 minutes, 13.2 seconds. Sophomore Eva Jacobsen wasn’t far behind in 12th at 11:17.7, and senior Mackenize Browne followed in 19th at 11:32.6. Freshman Jenna Jacobsen placed 25th in 11:47.5, and sophomore Rickeisha Simms was 27th in 11:48.2.
Texas A&M won the women’s team title with 34 points, Houston finished second with 42, and Baylor scored 88.
On the men’s side, junior Jack Sterrett once again led the Bears, finishing 10th in the 5K in 15:43.5. It was the eighth straight meet he’s been Baylor’s No. 1 finisher. Seniors Nolan Keenan and Straton Miller took 13th and 15th, respectively, while senior Ben Archer was 29th and junior Caden Biltz finished 31st.
Texas A&M also claimed the men’s team race with 33 points. Houston was second with 38, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi came in third with 77, and Baylor finished with 97.
“I thought both teams did a good job positioning themselves early in the race,” head coach David Barnett said, “and the top three finishers (on both sides) all had quality finishes. As a whole, I was pleased, and I'm excited to see the momentum for both teams continue to build as we move forward in the season.”
Baylor was short-handed on the women’s side, with junior Ruth Kimeli and Eastern Kentucky transfer Khadijah Ennasri both held out of the opener.
Both teams will return to the Watts Course next Friday, Sept. 11, for the Texas A&M Invitational.
In Other News...
Auburn Handed Baylor One Of The Weirdest Moments Of The Game
Alex Goleshs first game as Auburns head coach already had one of those moments that gets replayed and argued over long after the final whistle. In the third quarter, with the Tigers trying to settle into a new era under a coach hired after a successful run at South Florida, Auburn reached for a gadget play that immediately put everyone in the stadium on alert and left Baylor with a big break in the middle of a tight game.
The decision did not age well. What looked like a surprise answer to a field-position question instead became a fresh source of criticism, as fans and observers quickly questioned the timing and logic of the call in that spot. For Baylor, it was the kind of odd, sudden swing that can change the feel of a game without adding anything to the box score except another reminder that strange things tend to happen early in a season opener. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Volleyball Just Got An Early Test Fans Can't Ignore
No. 20 Baylor volleyball ran into an early measuring stick Friday at the Ferrell Center, where No. 17 Florida handed the Bears a straight-set defeat and left a notable mark on the home schedule. Baylor still had production at the net, with Ksenia Rakhmanchik leading the way with 12 kills and both Bailey Warren and Victoria Davis making meaningful contributions, but the match showed how quickly a ranked nonconference opponent can expose small gaps in rhythm and finish.
The loss also stood out because it was Baylors first home sweep loss since Sept. 18, 2024, a reminder that this kind of setback has been rare in Waco. The Bears will have little time to dwell on it, with the Ameritas Challenge in Lincoln, Nebraska, next on the schedule and another chance to see how they respond against quality competition. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Womens Golf Gets An Early Test For A Proven Core
Baylor womens golf is wasting no time finding out where it stands. The Bears open their 2026-27 season at the Cougar Classic on Sept. 7-8 in Charleston, South Carolina, a familiar early checkpoint for teams trying to gauge form against a deep field. Head coach Jay Goble, entering his 16th season, sounds eager to get the new campaign rolling, especially with a schedule that should offer an immediate read on how the roster is coming together.
The good news for Baylor is that this is not a group starting from scratch. Five returning players will make up the core of the lineup, with senior Yurang Li again set to anchor the top of the order after a strong year. Charleston will give the Bears a clean first look at that proven nucleus, along with the kind of competition that can quickly show whether experience translates into another step forward. [Read more 🡒]