STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Tarleton State Cross Country will open its 2025 campaign on Friday morning at the John McKenzie Invitational at the TCU/AP Ranch Championship Cross Country Course.
 
The Texans will send a pair of athletes to run in each the men's and women's races. Freshmen Victoria Guerrero and Kaylee Gray will take to the course for the women's 5K at 7:30 a.m. to kick off the season for the Purple and White. At 8 am, freshmen Mez Barth and Tyler Hedgepeth will run in the men's 5K. The quartet will be making their collegiate cross country debuts.
 
The meet will be free to attend and there will not be a stream. Live results will be provided by Mile Split for each race. Follow @tarletonxctrack on both Instagram and X for live updates, photos and videos of the race and all things Tarleton State Cross Country and Track and Field.
 
Last season, the Texans placed second as a team in both the men's and women's races. With both Texan programs only carrying two runners, the squad will not be able to score as a team this year. Individually, the Texan men posted four consecutive runners placing 10^th to 13^th. Jace Poole led the charge crossing in 15:18.26. A pair of Texan women finished in the top 10, with five earning top 20 finishes.
 
Last year, Tarleton State made their first-ever appearance at the Division I NCAA South Central Regional Cross Country Meet. The men placed ninth with the women 27^th overall. Last year's meet was held at Watts Cross Country Course in College Station, Tex. This year, the meet will be held in Fayetteville, Ark. at the Agri Park Cross Country Course.
 
Next week, the full Texan squad will be in action. Tarleton State will get a preview of the WAC Cross Country Championship Course by running at the Gerald Richey Invitational, hosted by UT Arlington. Both the men and the women will race a 5K, with the women starting at 7:30 a.m. and the men to follow.