Simuchimba Earns All-SEC Honor at Conference Meet

LSU's Joseph Simuchimba
LSU's Joseph Simuchimba
PHOTO BY:Ben Tunimello
Simuchimba Earns All-SEC Honor at Conference Meet

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Junior Joseph Simuchimba highlighted LSU’s efforts at the SEC Championships on Saturday at the Kentucky Horse Park, earning all-conference honors in guiding the Tigers to an eighth-place team finish. The Lady Tigers were ninth overall.

Simuchimba completed the 8K course in 24:23.73, his second fastest time of the season, to place 10th overall and earn second-team All-SEC honors. The conference recognition is the first for an LSU athlete since the 2001 season and just the 12th honor in Tiger history.

“Joseph has been consistent all year long and today was no different,” said LSU cross country coach Mark Elliott. “He ran well. He’s always someone you can rely on. His performance was a silver lining in the men’s race today.”

As a team the, Tigers finished with 180 points. The women tallied 259. Arkansas swept the meet’s team titles, claiming the men’s crown with 36 points and the women’s with 39.

Elliott was pleased with Simuchimba’s effort as well as his other top two runners, Jacob Simmons and Elkana Kosgei. Simmons earned his fourth top-20 finish of the season, placing 19th overall with a time of 24:57. 36.

“I am probably the most pleased with Jake’s performance today,” said Elliott. “He just works really hard and its showing. I respect him for that.”

Kosgei was the only other Tiger to finish among the field’s top 50. He placed 45 overall with a time of 25:39.85.

“Joseph, Jake and Elkana all ran well today, but this is a team sport,” said Elliott on the men’s overall effort. “When all seven guys aren’t running their best it will push you back (in the team standings).”

For the women, senior Kate Accardo again led the Lady Tigers’ charge. She placed 49th overall, finishing the 6K course in 22:33.86, her fastest 6K time of the season.

Following Accardo were four others that all finished within six spots of each other. Megan Broussard placed 62nd (23:10.64), Lindsay Day was 64th (23:14.18) and Jennifer Radecker (23:19.59) and Christina Porter (23:24.74) placed 66th and 67th, respectively. Broussard and Porter’s times marked season-best efforts.

“Everything considered, I think the women ran well today,” said Elliott. “Most of them either beat their season best or were right in that range, so I have to be pleased with that.”

Up next, both the Tigers and Lady Tigers take next weekend off to prepare for the NCAA South Central Regional Championships on Nov. 10 in Fayetteville, Ark.

TEAM RESULTS

Men
1. Arkansas, 36
2. Florida, 74
3. Alabama, 82
4. Tennessee, 102
5. Mississippi State, 138
6. Auburn, 158
7. Georgia, 177
8. LSU, 180
9. Kentucky, 214
10. Vanderbilt, 302

Women
1. Arkansas, 39
2. Tennessee, 84
3. Georgia, 85
4. Florida, 96
5. Kentucky, 104
6. Auburn, 171
7. Mississippi State, 209
8. Vanderbilt, 217
9. LSU, 259
10. Alabama, 275
11. South Carolina, 290
12. Ole Miss, 352

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (Winner plus all LSU competitors)

Men
1, Emmanuel Bor, Alabama, 23:50.45. 10, Joseph Simuchimba, 24:23.73. 19, Jacob Simmons, 24:57.36. 45, Elkana Kosgei, 25:39.85. 67, Alan Sticker, 26:21.22. 69, Richard Chautin, 26:23.73. 80, Michael Florek, 26:47.29. 81, Michael Hendry, 26:48.87. 87, Rueben Twijukye, 27:06.32. 90, Kyle Hecker, 27:25.70. 94, Ken Ehrhardt, 27:53.40.

Women
1, Sarah Madebach, Georgia, 20:49.11. 49, Kate Accardo, 22:33.86. 62, Megan Broussard, 23:10.64. 64, Lindsay Day, 23:14.18. 66, Jennifer Radecker, 23:19.59. 67, Christina Porter, 23:24.74. 77, Christy Zirkle, 24:08.59. 79, Katie Dawson, 24:20.38.