MOBILE, Ala. - The Southeastern Louisiana University men's and women's cross country teams finally got their 2008 campaigns underway on Saturday as the Lady Lions placed two in the top three en route to a second place finish and the men's squad boasted a pair of top ten finishers to take fourth at the 36th Annual Azalea City Classic hosted by South Alabama on Saturday.
After their first three meets of 2008 were cancelled due to Hurricane Gustav, the Lions and Lady Lions saw their fourth chance at a season-opening meet threatened by the outer rain bands of Hurricane Ike. Fortunately for Southeastern, the weather held up long enough to get the first meet of 20008 underway.
Sophomore Dorcus Kapkiai led the way on Saturday, completing the 5K course in 18:59, to claim second place, just two seconds behind women's champion Tinette Burger of McNeese State. The Eldoret, Kenya native was followed by senior teammate Everlyne Matonyei who took third with a time of 19:02.
Senior Kim Gastinell finished just three second shy of a top ten spot with a time of 10:43 to come in 11th, Freshman Katherine Cade posted a time of 21:06 to take 17th in her first collegiate meet and give the Lady Lions four top-20 finishers en route to a second place finish with 59 points, 14 points shy of Saturday's winner, McNeese State.
Meanwhile, sophomore Henry Rop led the men's squad to a fourth-place finishing one second behind the day's individual champion, Micah Tirop of South Alabama. Rop's time of 15:01 over the 5K course was good enough to secure second place as the Lions' best finisher.
Classmate Nelphat Boit helped the cause by joining Rop in the top ten with an eighth place time of 15:55.
The Lions and Lady Lions will return to competition at the LSU Cross Country Festival on September 27th.
Women's Team Scores
1. McNeese State Univ 45
2. Southeastern Louisiana Univ 59
3. South Alabama 80
4. Univ Of West Florida 100
5. Troy Univ 112
6. Spring Hill College 152
7. Loyola Univ 175
8. Univ Of Mobile 200
Southeastern Women's Individual Scores
Place Name Time
2 Dorcus Kapkiai 18.59
3 Everlyne Matonyei 19.02
11 Kim Gastinell 10.43
17 Katherine Cade 21.06
26 Esther Kemboi 22.18
27 Ernestine, Carodine 22.27
29 Courtney Schultheis 22.33
32 Jalynn McDonald 23.23
Men's Team Scores
1. McNeese State Univ 45
2. Troy Univ 54
3. South Alabama 82
4. Southeastern Louisiana Univ 104
5. Univ Of West Florida 123
6. Nicholls State Univ 161
7. Spring Hill College 164
8. Univ Of Mobile 197
Southeastern Men's Individual Scores
Place Name Time
2 Henry Rop 15.01
3 Nelphat Boit 15.55
30 Kyle Golden 17.38
35 Zack Dufrene 17.58
40 MJ Ahmad 18.26
63 Mitchell Kattengell 20.03