FORT WORTH, Texas (SMU) – The SMU cross country team started the 2026 season with a first-place team finish at the John McKenzie Invitational as Rose Mburu led the way, finishing first overall to claim the individual title on Friday.

Mustangs placed in four of the top five spots, scoring 17 points to win the 5k. In total, SMU had eight runners place inside the top-10, as all 11 runners finished within the top half of the field.

"Today the team trusted the plan and their teammates," Head Coach 'A Havahla Haynes said. "Control as a group early led to complete races and ultimately a team win."

Mburu paced the team with another strong showing as the 2025 All-Region honoree picked up right where she left off last season with the first first-place finish of her young career with a time of 17:28.5.

Running right with Mburu was freshman Mary Nyangate, who finished second overall with a time of 17:29.4. Carolina Correia, a 2025 All-Region honoree herself, closed out the Mustangs' 1-2-3 finish, placing third overall with a time of 17:38.3.

Rounding out the Mustangs' scorers was Georgia Bell, who placed fifth overall with a time of 18:04.5 in her first meet as a Mustang, and Ruby Little, who finished sixth with a time of 18:06.2.

The Mustangs will be back in action next week at the Texas A&M Invitational on September 11.

TEAM RESULTS
1 SMU – 17pts
2 TCU – 56 pts
3 North Texas – 84 pts
4 Tarleton State – 96 pts

INDIVIDUAL MUSTANG RESULTS
1 Rose Mburu - 17:28.5
2 Mary Nyangate - 17:29.4
3 Carolina Correia - 17:38.3
5 Georgia Bell - 18:04.5
6 Ruby Little - 18:06.2
7 Lena Suchowolak -18:13.4
9 Elizabeth Smits - 18:32.7
10 Paulina Kiscilinska - 18:43.2
13 Erika Kirk - 18:59.8
15 Poppy Elton - 19:11.4
16 Zara Pomfret - 19:13.8