DBU set a program record at the fifth annual Old Glory Gallop, finishing fifth overall with a team average of 24:35. Chase Hope placed 20th overall and set a new program record in the 8K with a personal-best time of 24:12.81. 
 

- DBU has finished on the podium at the LSC Championships in four of the past five seasons. 

- The Patriots are still searching for their first LSC championship since joining the conference in 2019. 

- The LSC preseason poll ranked DBU second, behind No. 4 West Texas A&M. 

- At the Old Glory Gallop, the Patriots finished second among Lone Star Conference programs, trailing only the Buffs. 
 

As the calendar flips to November and the clocks turn back an hour, the cross country season approaches its climax. The blistering heat of early September has faded into the rearview mirror, giving way to colder conditions and competitions carrying greater consequences. With a bid to the national championships hanging in the balance, the Patriots are primed for the Lone Star Conference Championships. 
 

DBU has demonstrated throughout the regular season that it has the talent and depth to match its preseason ranking, but the Patriots must prove it on the course. 
 

The story of DBU's season has been its depth. David Salas, Graham Scott, and Chase Hope have each led the Patriots in a race this fall, demonstrating the team's ability to find front-runners across the lineup. Hudson Joseph, who has yet to lead DBU across the finish line this season, was the Patriots' top finisher at last year's LSC Championships. Seniors Drew McLaughlin and CJ Hobbs are helping guide freshmen Gavin Brown and Gannon Dolan through their rookie seasons, while sophomores Hunter Horton and Ryker Haivala round out a 10-man squad with its sights set on an NCAA Division II National Championship berth. 
 

The importance of that depth was evident at the 2024 LSC Championships, when DBU finished fifth at the Texas A&M–Kingsville course. It was the Patriots' only finish outside the top two in the past four seasons, and the teams placing second through fifth were separated by just 15 points. With the margin for error so slim, a return to the podium with a second-place finish or better would provide a significant boost heading into the South Central Regional Championships. With West Texas A&M expected to lead the field, DBU will need to limit the damage against other conference contenders to strengthen its case for an at-large berth to the national championships. 
 

DBU has its sights set on an LSC championship, but the path to the title will be challenging. Unseating No. 4 West Texas A&M would be an impressive feat. The Buffs have won 13 consecutive LSC championships and continued their dominance at the Old Glory Gallop, claiming the team title with just 27 points. West Texas A&M placed six runners in the top 10, led by the individual champion, who recorded the fastest 8K time in Division II this season.
 

UT Tyler entered the season ranked third in the preseason poll, behind DBU, but has yet to overtake the Patriots in head-to-head competition. DBU finished ahead of its conference rival at both the Chile Pepper Festival and the Old Glory Gallop. Oklahoma Christian, ranked fourth in the preseason poll, also finished ahead of UT Tyler at the Old Glory Gallop but remained more than 50 points behind DBU. Both programs will look to close the gap at the conference championships, but the Patriots have established themselves as the stronger challenger to West Texas A&M.