Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns men's and women's cross country teams returned to action on Saturday, Oct. 9 running in the Asics McNeese Cowboy Stampede in Lake Charles.
The women participated in a 5K run and the men ran four miles. The event marked the third meet of the 2010 season for both squads.
The Cajuns men were paced again by Juan Rodriguez and Zachary France. Both were the team's top two finishers in the Ragin' Cajuns Invitational (Sept. 17) and LSU Invitational (Sept. 25).
Rodriguez was the team's top runner in the Cowboy Stampede clocking in at 21:01.31 which placed him 25th in the 76-man field. France was 16 seconds behind Rodriguez's pace, finishing the four-mile run in 21:17.34 which placed him 30th.
On the women's side, Louisiana had two runners claim Top 20 spots amongst the 61 runners who completed the 5K trek.
Paula Parker was the Cajuns top finisher for the third time is as many meets this season. Parker, who finished 16th, traversed the 5K course in 18:56.94 and was only 17 seconds shy of a Top 10 finish.
Petrona Layne crossed the finish line two seconds after Parker, clocking in at 18:58.91 for a 17th place finish.
Michon Meche (30th, 19:51.60) and April Colomb (31st, 19:56.82) were the other two Cajuns to finish the race in less than 20 minutes.
The Ragin' Cajuns have one more meet before the Sun Belt Conference Championship. On Saturday, Oct. 16 the men's and women's squads will run in the Coach "O" Invitational in Troy, Ala.
RAGIN' CAJUNS MEN'S FOUR MILE RESULTS (76 total runners)
25) Juan Rodriguez (21:01.31)
30) Zach France (21:17.34)
53) Patrick Spiller (22:26.86)
69) Cody Tilley (24:11.50)
71) Jordan McGee (26:00.68)
73) Joel Taylor (26:26.49)
75) Brock Bertucci (26:35.17)
RAGIN' CAJUNS WOMEN'S 5K RESULTS (61 total runners)
16) Paula Parker (18:56.94)
17) Petrona Layne (18:58.91)
30) Michon Meche (19:51.60)
31) April Colomb (19:56.82)
40) Jenna Picou (20:44.65)
42) Katie Roland (20:56.59)
45) Tiffany Patrick (21:10.82)
51) Torri Choate (22:25.75)
OVERALL MEN'S TEAM RESULTS
1) McNeese State 18
2) Louisiana Tech 74
LSU 74
4) Texas-Arlington 104
5) Central Arkansas 149
6) Southeastern Louisiana 153
7) Northwestern State 195
8) Louisiana 199
OVERALL WOMEN'S RESULTS
1) Texas-Arlington 38
2) LSU 63
3) Central Arkansas 66
4) Southeastern Louisiana 102
5) Louisiana 104
6) Northwestern State 121
(no team totals for McNeese)