Chris-Ann Edwards and Jayda Love, both returning runners for Coach Yhann Plummer, have been identified as cross country athletes to watch by the Southern States Athletic Conference. 

Edwards, a sophomore from Kingston, Jamaica, had a successful freshman campaign in multiple events. She placed in the top 20 of the Red River Athletic Conference cross country meet in the fall, then won the RRAC outdoor 800 in the spring. 

Love, a senior from Houston, enters her second season with the Gold Nuggets, having previously run for Sam Houston State.

In 2026, she was a top-20 finisher in the RRAC meet and was a two-event All-SSAC indoor track athlete, having run for both the 4X800 and distance medley relay teams. Love also ran a leg for the XULA 4X800 outdoor team, which took silver at the RRAC meet. 

The full SSAC watchlist is available here.