Cross Country finishes up season at SBC

Cross Country finishes up season at SBC
Courtesy: RaginCajuns.com           Release: 10/31/2009
 
 
View largerCourtesy: RaginCajuns.com
http://www.ragincajuns.com
 
 
Runners competed on a very wet and soggy course Saturday afternoon at the 2009 Sun Belt Conference Men's and Women's Cross Country Championship as Western Kentucky University won the women's championship for the fourth straight year and Middle Tennessee took home the men's title.

For the Cajuns, Reese Lee was the high finisher, coming in 44th place with a time of 30:06.40 out of 80 racers. On the women's side it, Katie Roland was the high finisher with a time of 22:37.19, which put her in 34th place out of 80 runners.

As a team the UL women finished in 10th place out of 11 teams. The UL men came in 11thplace.

WKU's Janet Jesang repeated as individual champion, and her third straight overall, in the women's race with a time of 19:09.83.  She led the charge of four Lady Toppers that finished in the top fourteen as Marion Kandie finished second, Eimear O'Brien finished 11th, and Michelle Finn finished 14th.  The Lady Toppers finished with a total of 53 points in winning their fourth consecutive Cross Country Championship.

Middle Tennessee took second place in the women's race as Zamzam Sangau took third overall in a time of 19:49.09.  Marla Bailey finished fourth for the Blue Raiders.

In the men's race South Alabama's Zac Edwards crossed the finish line first on the muddy course.  Edwards finished with a time of 26:10.91 in helping South Alabama to a second place team finish. Micah Tirop who had won the individual championship the previous two years finished fourth overall.

                                          

Middle Tennessee had five runners finish in the top eleven of the men's race - led by Festus Chemaoi who finish second overall. Middle Tennessee finished with a total of 36 points.

WKU's Michelle Scott and Middle Tennessee's Dean Hayes were respectively chosen as the league's Women's and Men's Cross Country Coaches of the Year.

South Alabama took home both Freshman of the year awards with Alex Shields winning it for the men and Tori Lawson for the Women.

Women's Individual Champion: Janet Jesang, WKU

Men's Individual Champion: Zac Edwards, South Alabama

Men's Coach of the Year: Dean Hayes, WKU

Women's Coach of the Year: Michelle Scott, WKU

Men's Freshman of the Year: Alex Shields, South Alabama

Women's Freshman of the Year: Tori Lawson, South Alabama


Women's Championship Team Results

Team

Points

1. WKU

53

2. Middle Tennessee

65

3. North Texas

98

4. Florida Atlantic

103

5. UALR

141

6. Arkansas State

142

7. South Alabama

152

8. Troy

166

9. Louisiana-Monroe

229

10. Louisiana-Lafayette

239

11. Florida International

302

 

UL Individual Women's Results
34. Katie Roland, 22:37.19
40. Michon Meche, 22:46.23
58. Callie Picou, 23:46.56
65. Torri Choate, 24.11.35
69. Jenna Picou, 24:32.51

Men's Championship Team Results

Team

Points

1. Middle Tennessee

36

2. South Alabama

43

3. UALR

86

3. North Texas

158

5. Troy

161

6. WKU

159

7. Florida Atlantic

181

8. Arkansas State

185

9. Louisiana-Monroe

194

10. Florida International

210

11. Louisiana-Lafayette

280

UL Individual Men's results
44. Reese Lee, 30:06.40
48. Zach France, 30:10.66
60. Chase Menard, 30:51.08
67. Kail Kidd, 31:21.01
69. Robert Willie, 31:47.49
71. Matt Meche, 32:02.32
75. Geoffrey Goudeau, 32:59.97
77. Stuart Theriot, 33:23.01