Monroe, La. - The ULM men's and women's cross country teams trudged through the very wet and soggy Selman Field course on Saturday afternoon during the 2009 Sun Belt Cross Country Championships. Both squads finished ninth as a team, while sophomore Moses Chelimo paced the Warhawk men's squad with an individual 14th place finish and freshman Madeleine Robertson led the women with an individual 21st place finish.
Chelimo ran the 8K race in a time of 28:16.51. His finish was seven spots higher than what he ran during last year's Sun Belt Championships. Robertson crossed the finish line during the 5K race in 21:55.78, as it was the first Championship race of her career.
Senior Andrew Opata placed 38th after crossing the finish line in 29:43.75. Sophomore Britt Koestler finished three spots back of Opata in 41st with a time of 29:55.66. Sophomore Kendall Robbins claimed the 50th spot after running in 30:16.37. Rounding out the runners for the Warhawk men, were freshman David Jones (55th, 30:35.51), junior Jorel Torres (57th, 30:42.21), and sophomore Hunter Russell (59th, 30:46.07).
Sophomore Kelsie Coats placed 43rd for the Warhawk women with a time of 22:54.08. Sophomore Denise Myers and freshman Tyler Blacklock completed the race in 51st (23:14.24) and 54th (23:30.97) place, respectively. Freshman Jasmine Garcia ran in 24:14.94 to claim the 67th spot. Also for the women, junior Alexis Krigbaum and sophomore Stacey Carmack finished back-to-back in 76th (25:32.75) and 77th (26:05.35), respectively.
Western Kentucky won the women's championship for the fourth straight year and Middle Tennessee men took home the men's title. Western Kentucky's Janet Jesang repeated as individual champion, also her third title overall, in the women's race with a time of 19:09.83.
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.
Western Kentucky'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.
The ULM cross country teams will next compete in the NCAA South Central Regional Championships in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Saturday, Nov. 14.
Women's Individual Champion: Janet Jesang, Western Kentucky
Men's Individual Champion: Zac Edwards, South Alabama
Men's Coach of the Year: Dean Hayes, Western Kentucky
Women's Coach of the Year: Michelle Scott, Western Kentucky
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. Western Kentucky 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. ULM 229
10. Louisiana-Lafayette 239
11. FIU 302
Men's Championship Team Results
Team Points
1. Middle Tennessee 36
2. South Alabama 43
3. UALR 86
4. North Texas 158
5. Troy 161
6. Western Kentucky 159
7. Florida Atlantic 181
8. Arkansas State 185
9. ULM 194
10. FIU 210
11. Louisiana-Lafayette 280
Courtesy: ulmwarhawks.com