University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Friday, September 4
New Orleans, La. / Lake Oaks Park
5:15 p.m.
Southern Miss
vs
Battle for New Orleans
Cross Country to Open Season at Battle for New Orleans
9/3/2026 3:00:00 PM | Women's Cross Country
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss Cross Country opens its 2026 campaign at the Battle for New Orlean, co-hosted by Tulane and newly rebranded LSU New Orleans. Start time for the 4,000-meter race is set for 5:15 p.m. at Lake Oaks Park in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The Golden Eagles return 11 letterwinners from last year's Sun Belt Conference runner-up squad, including First-Team All-SBC selection Emme Bates, Second-Team selection Cadence Lapp and Third-Team Selection Lexi Cooper. At last season's Battle for New Orleans, Southern Miss placed second with a total time of 1:11:08.
Bates led the way for the Golden Eagles with a seventh-place finish in 13:54.2 and was one of two Southern Miss athletes to finish in the top 10. Co-host Tulane took the women's title last year after claiming six of the top nine finishes.
Bates' 13:54.2 was Southern Miss' faster 4,000-meter time last season. She and six other current Golden Eagles clocked times at last year's meet with Addison Rainey's 14:22.3 ranking as Southern Miss' second-best returning mark from last year, when she earned 17th place in New Orleans.
Hayley Datema (15:13.13), Cadence Lapp (15:22.25), Olivia Smith (15:27.38) and Presley Miller (15:53.96) all finished with sub-16-minute times with Sylvia White finishing strong at 16:21.48.
Lexi Cooper, Corinne Croy and Sophie West all did not race in last year's event.
Live results of the meet will be available at SouthernMiss.com through Chipped Timing.
The Golden Eagles return 11 letterwinners from last year's Sun Belt Conference runner-up squad, including First-Team All-SBC selection Emme Bates, Second-Team selection Cadence Lapp and Third-Team Selection Lexi Cooper. At last season's Battle for New Orleans, Southern Miss placed second with a total time of 1:11:08.
Bates led the way for the Golden Eagles with a seventh-place finish in 13:54.2 and was one of two Southern Miss athletes to finish in the top 10. Co-host Tulane took the women's title last year after claiming six of the top nine finishes.
Bates' 13:54.2 was Southern Miss' faster 4,000-meter time last season. She and six other current Golden Eagles clocked times at last year's meet with Addison Rainey's 14:22.3 ranking as Southern Miss' second-best returning mark from last year, when she earned 17th place in New Orleans.
Hayley Datema (15:13.13), Cadence Lapp (15:22.25), Olivia Smith (15:27.38) and Presley Miller (15:53.96) all finished with sub-16-minute times with Sylvia White finishing strong at 16:21.48.
Lexi Cooper, Corinne Croy and Sophie West all did not race in last year's event.
Live results of the meet will be available at SouthernMiss.com through Chipped Timing.
– #SMTTT –
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
Monday, August 31
Saturday, August 22
Wednesday, August 19
Tuesday, August 18