For the first time since the 2011 cross country national championships, Odessa College cross country will enter teams in the NJCAA cross country post-season.  After a ten-year pause, Odessa College restarted both the cross country and track and field programs to the offering of sports at OC.  Decorated NJCAA cross country and track coach Chris Beene was hired in July to lead the rebuild of a much-heralded cross country/track program at Odessa College.  The rebuild happened quickly, as Odessa College is ranked tenth nationally in both the men's and women's cross-country programs, headed into the 2024 post-season. 

Odessa College will compete in the NJCAA Region 5 cross country meet this Saturday, October 26, 2024 in Hobbs, NM.  Defending national champion New Mexico Junior College is the host college for this event, which begins at 11:30am, central time.  The OC women will take to the course first, with the men's race following at 12:30pm, central time.  The NJCAA National Cross-Country championships take place on November 9, 2024 in Richmond, VA. 

The Wranglers cross country teams are both led by outstanding individual freshman runners.  Mohammed El Youssfi on the men's side and Elizabeth Ilanda on the women's side have both enjoyed success throughout the 2024 season.  Both runners were named USTFCCCA Division I athlete of the week for their performances at the Texas Tech cross country meet on October 12^th in Lubbock, TX.  Both Ilanda and El Youssfi were the top two-year college finishers in the meet.  Additionally, Ilanda finished the race second overall, in front of a large contingent of four-year university runners.  El Youssfi finished the race in third place overall. 

OC Head Coach Chris Beene stated, "James Segrest put OC on the national map relative to cross country and track and field.  I am truly honored to be able to restart a program and practice each day in a beautiful facility that honors Coach Segrest name.  We are excited that both teams are ranked in the top 10 nationally, with all first-year runners.  The teams are looking forward to the region meet this coming Saturday with the anticipation of qualifying for the NJCAA national meet."