Senior men’s cross country runner Evan Rehrauer opened up his season with an impressive start, winning Zaxby’s Player of the Week, while helping the team start on the right foot and set a new personal best at the University of North Georgia Cross Country Invitational. 

Rehrauer won the individual title at the UNG Invitational, capturing the 8K race on the UNG cross country course with a new personal best of 26:25.1, six seconds faster than the next nearest competitor in the race. Rehrauer’s accomplishment is the first time a GCSU cross country athlete won an individual title since Quillian Holland captured the award in 2021 at the Bobcat Invitational.

“​​It wasn’t till about 30 seconds later when I was getting up and was walking,” said Rehrauer. “I thought, ‘Oh, I actually just did that.’ I actually just won. I was extremely excited in the days that followed, and it was really cool. I won the race, but it’s just one step in our season. We have much bigger fish to fry coming later this season. So I won’t linger on it for too long.”

Not only did Rehrauer add to his list of individual accomplishments, but he also led the Bobcats to the team title. It was the first team title for GCSU since the team won the Border Clash at the Winthrop Invitational at the beginning of the 2017 season. 

“It was really great to see all the hard work that he put in over the summer, as well as the payoff with the start to this season,” said Jack Aurelia, a freshman men’s cross country athlete. “For the team, it’s been great. We have a great group of guys that came in as freshmen, and we have a big second group that sticks together during the workout, so it’s great to see them grow out there and put together a win at UNG.”

In the past few years, GCSU’s cross-country team has drawn large freshman classes, with both the men’s and women’s teams bringing in a combined 15 freshman athletes. Leadership is always necessary, especially for large first-year courses like this one. 

“I would say he leads a lot more by example than anything,” said Noah Boys, a senior men’s cross country athlete. “He’s one of those people who steps into the role, naturally. By doing things, by getting out there, and showing people how to do things and what to do, and how to do them properly.”

“I’m excited to go compete and run well at conference, as it’s our home course,” Rehrauer said. “Going to defend the home turf. Over the last three years, I have not been able to put together a strong regional race, and I’m feeling confident this year that I can produce one that will be really good for me.”

Since winning Zaxby’s Player of the Week, Rehrauer finished 44th out of 116th, with a 29:06.0 in the 8K at the Bobcat Invitational in Milledgeville, helping GCSU to finish 2nd out of 13 on the new Bobcat Cross Country Course on Friday, Sep. 26. Men’s Cross Country returns Oct. 10 in Charolotte, North Carolina at the Royals Cross Country Challenge.