Ellis, young Lady Demon runners win another

SHREVEPORT -- Freshman Karensa Ellis won for a second time this week and led the Northwestern State women to their second consecutive team title Saturday morning at the Centenary Invitational, while the NSU men were a close second behind Grambling.

Ellis ran away with individual honors, posting a 23:07.97 time over the 6k course at the Disc Golf Course on Clyde Fant Parkway. She was 39 seconds ahead of the runner-up. Monday, Ellis took first as the Lady Demons captured the NSU Invitational title.

Saturday, Ellis was among four top 10 finishers for Northwestern as the Lady Demons posted 34 points, besting Grambling by 10 (44) and Centenary by 20 (54). Lon Morris College had 118, Louisiana Tech 130, East Texas Baptist 156 and LeTourneau 164.

Freshman Allison Fontentot was NSU's second finisher, taking fourth overall in 24:13.93. Walk-on freshman Sarah Emory was third on the Lady Demons's scorecard, seventh overall in 24:48.24, while sophomore Lawana Perkins ran ninth overall in 25:07.57. Junior Andrea Warren completed the scoring for Northwestern with a 13th-place 25:57.52.

Also running for the Lady Demons was sophomore Courtney Hershberger, 17th in 26:41.50.

The Demons were nipped by Grambling in the team standings, 46-53. Lon Morris College had 66, followed by Centenary (79), LeTourneau (102) and East Texas Baptist (172). Grambling had four runners in the top six, paced by individual champion Darwin Price Jr. (25:24.53).

Freshman Josh Crandell (7th, 27:40.71) and junior Cameron Mehl (9th, 27:47.12) gave Northwestern a pair of top 10 finishes in the 8k race. Freshman Kyle Lessig ran 11th (28:15.36) and rounding out the scorecard for the Demons were Chris Lanier (12th, 28:46.07) and junior Dusty Dischler (14th, 29:08.15).

NSU's other runners were sophomore Breshon Williams (17th, 29:52.99) and freshman Matt Lanier (28th, 30:53.49) in the 41-man race.

"It was a great day overall. We had some big personal bests today," said NSU coach Haley Blount. "Cameron had the breakout race he has been looking for. Ali and Sarah both had an amazing last mile and fought tooth and nail, and both passed runners just before the finish line. They competed hard."

After their second competition in five days, the Northwestern teams will take next weekend off before running at Sam Houston State on Oct. 17 and hosting the Demon Invitational on Oct. 23.