CLEVELAND, Miss. - The year 2025 marks a historic milestone, as Delta State University celebrates 100 years of excellence in education, athletics, and community impact. As part of the university's centennial celebration, we proudly spotlight Delta State's cross country program.

Delta State's women's cross country program was established in 1982, as one of the founding members of the Gulf South Conference. Prior to that, Delta State was home to a men's cross country team from 1972-1983. The men's program had one All Gulf South Conference honoree in its short history in Roy Martin (1981).

In over 40 years, the Lady Statesmen have produced 15 All-GSC selections, including six first-team honorees: Rhonda Barton (1982), Tracey Brendlinger (1994), Stacey Hagenson (2010, 2011, 2012), and Hannah Grace Whitaker (2011).

Hagenson, the most decorated runner in Delta State's history, was a three-time All-GSC selection, Freshman of the Year (2010), and was named to the GSC's All-Decade Team (2010-19). Her name is also splattered across the program's Top 20 5K and 6K times. 

Doug Pinkerton, the longest tenured coach in Delta State's cross country history, spent 18 years at the helm of the Lady Statesmen. As head coach, Pinkerton led DSU to its highest finish at the conference championships in 2011 where they finished second with 69 points.

Delta State made four consecutive appearances at the NCAA Regional Championships from 2009-2012, with the highest finish being fifth in 2012 with 167 points. That season also saw the program's first ever All-Region runners in Hagenson and Alyssa Shetley. After a five-year gap, the Lady Statesmen went to the NCAA Regionals in Lakeland, Fla., in back-to-back seasons in 2017 and 2018.
 
All-Gulf South Conference Selections
*Rhonda Barton (1982) 19:37
*Tracey Brendlinger (1994) 20:14
Kari Harris (1989) 24:22
Kristin Williams (2005) 18:59
Kristin Williams (2006) 19:31.1
*Stacey Hagenson (2010) 19:38.55
*Stacey Hagenson (2011) 19:30.57
*Hannah Grace Whitaker (2011) 20:09.49
Landi Tubertini (2011) 20:22.16
Annalee Pierce (2011) 20:30.39
*Stacey Hagenson (2012) 20:06.3
Annalee Pierce (2012) 20:52.7
Annalee Pierce (2013) 19:54.24
Rikita Saunders (2017) 19:06.06
Sarah Mumme (2018) 19:00.13
*First Team honorees (6)