MONROE, La.---Senior Maya Aden has been named the 2006 Runner of the Year by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association. The award is voted on by cross country sports information directors at institutions across the state. Senior Matt Brophy was also named to the men\'s team and juniors Jessica Baldino, Amanda Bartlett, and Amy Harris were voted to the women\'s team.
The five ULM runners selected were the most by any institution in the state. No school placed more than three runners on the two teams. This is the third straight year that Aden was selected to the team and the second consecutive selection for Bartlett. This is the first such honor for Brophy, Baldino, and Harris.
Aden won three meets during his senior season, winning the ULM/Pine Hills Invitational, the Ragin\' Cajun Invitational and the UALR Open. He also ran the fastest 10-kilometer time (29:53.1) in the Sun Belt Conference this season and ever for a school in the state of Louisiana at the Arkansas Chile Pepper Festival on Oct. 14. Aden finished third in the Sun Belt Conference championship meet and was named to the all-conference team. He finished 26th in the NCAA South Central Regional meet in Waco, Texas. Aden also was named Sun Belt Conference Men\'s Runner of the Week twice this season.
Brophy had three top-10 finishes in 2006, his best finish coming at the ULM/Pine Hills Invitational where he finished second. Brophy placed 12th in the Sun Belt Conference championship meet.
Baldino had three top-10 finishes in 2006. She finished fifth at the Ragin\' Cajun Invitational and sixth at the Northwestern State Invitational. Baldino finished 13th in the Sun Belt Conference championship meet and 63rd in the NCAA South Central Regional.
Bartlett had three top-10 finishes in her junior campaign, including winning the ULM/Pine Hills Invitational on Sept. 8. She was named Sun Belt Conference Runner of the Week for her efforts. Bartlett finished second at the Ragin\' Cajun Invitational and fourth at the UALR Open. She finished 12th at the Sun Belt Conference championship meet and 77th at the NCAA South Central Regional.
Harris had four top-10 finishes in 2006, including the Sun Belt Conference championship meet where she finished 10th and received all conference recognition. She finished third in both the ULM/Pine Hills Invitational and Ragin\' Cajun Invitational and seventh in the UALR Open. Harris was the top ULM women\'s finisher in the NCAA South Central Regional meet where she placed 60th.
2006 LSWA All-Louisiana Men\'s Cross Country Team
Maya Aden, ULM
Richard Boukert, Loyola
Matt Brophy, ULM
Matt Cagigal, Loyola
Drew Haro, LSU
Shane Rayners, Southeastern Louisiana
Zach Schuler, Louisiana Tech
Runner-of-the-Year: Maya Aden, ULM
Freshman-of-the-Year: Brett Borne, LSU
Newcomer-of-the-Year: Shayne Raymers, SELU
Coach-of-the-Year: Jospeh Moses, Xavier2006 LSWA All-Louisiana Women\'s Cross Country Team
Jessica Baldino, ULM
Amanda Bartlett, ULM
Rachael Graham, LSU
Ebony Harding, Xavier
Amy Harris, ULM
Mary Erin Imwalle, Loyola
Mandy Wallace, Southeastern Louisiana
Runner-of-the-Year: Rachael Graham, LSU
Freshman-of-the-Year: Sarah Doucet, SELU
Newcomer-of-the-Year: Ebony Harding, Xavier
Coach-of-the-Year: Joseph Moses, Xavier