2010 Choctaw Open Women's Results

2010 Choctwa Open Men's Results

CLINTON, Miss. - The Nicholls State University women's cross country team turned in a stellar performance despite being hampered by injuries as the Colonels place three finishers in the top six and came close to setting a pair of school records at the 2010 Choctaw Open hosted by Mississippi College on Sunday in the Colonels' final regular season race before the 2010 Southland Conference Cross Country Championships.

"It went really well today," head coach Scott Williamson said.  "We only raced four girls so we didn't have a team score, but our top three girls ran awesome.  It was a good tune-up race before conference."

The Colonels were led by senior Lauren Jones who covered the 5K course at Choctaw Trails in 18:12.01, 11 seconds off her school record pace.  Jessica McLeod was hot on Jones' heels clocking in with a personal 5K best of 18:13.40, less than two seconds behind Jones for fourth place.  Meanwhile, Kadi Whisnant turned in a personal best of her own, clocking in at 18:18.44 to take sixth.  Nicholls' fourth senior class member, Imma Kosgei claimed 21st with a time of 20:22.36.

Nagged by injuries, Nicholls sat out it's younger runners in hopes of helping them heal up in time for the conference meet, where the Colonels hope to improve on their school record sixth place finish from last season.

"I think our top three women's runners are as good as anybody's top three women's runners," Williamson said.  "After that, we look to two freshmen who have been battling injuries.  Our goal is the top six.  If everything went perfect, we could have a shot at breaking into the top four or five in the conference."

The 2010 Southland Conference Cross Country Championships are set for Oct. 28 in Beaumont, Texas.