MOBILE, Ala. – The ULM cross country programs laid it all on the line at the 2014 Sun Belt Conference Championships on Sunday as the men finished eighth and the women 11th at Battleship Memorial Park, hosted by the University of South Alabama.
Senior Hillary Kirwa set the pace for the Warhawks and ended as their top finished with a 27th-place time of 26:05.5. It was more than a full minute better than his 2013 SBC time of 27:33.3. Kirwa really picked up the pace after being ULM's No. 3 runner last year.
ULM's top runner, sophomore Dusan Makevic who earned All-Conference honors last year, was hoping to run after missing the last month due to a foot injury but could not.
Freshman James Turner looked to fill the void and captured a top-35 time of 26:34.6 to finish as ULM's second scorer.
Also scoring for the men were sophomores Brent Turner (27:04.8), Vinnie Van Puyvelde (27.20.9) and Jonathan Jeffcoat, (27:40.3).
Junior Rebecca Dark led the way for the women with a 63rd place finish. Her time of 20:18.2 crushed her 2013 mark of 20:42.9 in the meet.
Right behind were freshmen Kristin Cave and Josie Wood who placed 64th and 66th, respectively. Cave turned in a time of 20:42.2 while Wood stopped the clock at 20:45.0.
Rounding it out for the Warhawks, senior Anakaren Lopez registered a time of 21:18.6 in her final SBC meet and freshman Rebecca Fontenot timed in at 23:06.1.
The South Region Championships are slated for Nov. 14 in Fayetteville, Ark., and the NCAA Championships scheduled to be contested a week later in Terre Haute, Ind.
Men's Team Results
1. South Alabama, 53
2. Appalachian State, 55
3. UT Arlington, 61
4. UL-Lafayette, 90
5. UALR, 130
6. Texas State, 152
7. Arkansas State, 157
8. ULM, 201
9. Troy, 249
Men's Individual Results (8K)
27. Hillary Kirwa, 26:05.5
35. James Turner, 26:34.6
42. Brent Turner, 27:04.8
46. Vinnie Van Puyvelde, 27:20.9
51. Jonathan Jeffcoat, 27:40.3
56. Chris Silva, 30:22.4
57. Lane Perilloux, 31:15.2
Women's Team Results
1. UT Arlington, 51
2. Appalachian State, 60
3. Arkansas State, 64
4. UL-Lafayette, 135
5. Georgia State, 150
6. UALR, 163
7. South Alabama, 174
8. Texas State, 182
9. Troy, 198
10. Georgia Southern, 274
11. ULM, 332
Women's Individual Results (5K)
63. Rebecca Dark, 20:18.2
64. Kristin Cave, 20:42.2
66. Josie Wood, 20:45.0
68. Anakaren Lopez, 21:18.6
71. Rebecca Fontenot, 23:06.1
