2010 Southland Conference Cross Country Championship Central

THIBODAUX - The Nicholls State University men's and women's cross country teams will make their run at a conference title when the Colonels head to the 2010 Southland Conference cross country championships on Thursday in Beaumont, Texas.

The Nicholls women lead the way once again as the Colonel women's team enters the week ranked No. 15 in the latest U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association's South Central Regional rankings. 

However, the Colonel women will be facing a big challenge from the rest of the field as five other league rivals also enter Thursday's race holding a USTFCCCA South Central Region ranking.  No. 6 Stephen F. Austin, No. 7 Texas A&M - Corpus Christi, No. 9 Lamar, No. 10 McNeese State and No. 14 Texas-Arlington all lead the Colonels in the latest regional poll.

Despite the conference's reputation as one of the deepest leagues in the region, the Colonel women's team will still be looking to improve on a 2009 finish at the conference meet that was the best in program history.  The Nicholls women finished sixth in last season's championship race, led by Lauren Jones top-10 finish that made her the first all-conference cross country runner in the history of the program.

This season, Jones has led the way for the Colonels once again as Nicholls low finisher in two of three 5K races.  Jones' performance was highlighted by a 12th place finish of 18:03.70 at the prstigious Alabama Crimson Classic that set a new school 5K record.

Senior Kadi Whisnant, a Baton Rouge native, became the only Colonel to win an individual title this season, taking first at the 2010 Gulf Coast Stampede with a time of 18:23.80, establishing a new personal record and turning in the second best time in school history, at the time.

Seniors Jessica McLeod and imma Kosgei join Jones and Whisnant in giving the Colonels four of the most experienced senior runners in the conference.  McLeod, in particular, has momentum going into Thursday's meet after clocking a personal best time of 18:13.40 and taking fourth at the Mississippi College Choctaw Open in the Colonels last outing.

Meanwhile, the Colonel women are hoping a talented freshman class that has battled nagging injuries in the last two meets will be fully healthy to help Nicholls improve on it's school record finish.  Jacki White, Emily Charlesworth and Sarah Pressley will all be taking part in their first Southland Conference Championships on Thursday.

On the men's side, the Colonels have been bolstered by the addition of three newcomers this season.  Freshmen Blaine Gisclair and Nic Benoit, and junior transfer Casey Keiser have turned in some of the top performances for the Colonels this season.  Senior Joseph Fryou will make his final appearance with the Colonels, and juniors Justin Babin and Tyler Folse along with sophomores Dylan Williams and Ross Mullooly will look to give the Colonels added depth as Nicholls looks for its best team finish in more than a decade.

The action begins at Bayou Din Golf Club on Thursday morning with the 6K women's race starting at 9:00 a.m.  The men will follow at 9:45 a.m.  Live results are available at the Southland Conference's Cross Country Championship website