2010 USTFCCCA Cross Country Regional Rankings (Sept. 13)

NEW ORLEANS - After opening the season with a second place finish at the McNeese Relay two weeks ago, the Nicholls State University women's cross country team held its place as the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association ranked the Colonels 13th in the South Central Region in the latest rankings, realeased on Monday.

The Colonels, who finished last season ranked 12th in the region, were ranked 13th heading into the season opener at McNeese on Sept. 3.  After finishing runner up to the Cowgirls, but taking two of the top three spots, Nicholls held it's place in the standings.

The McNeese Relay featured one of the more unique formats for a sanctioned NCAA cross country meet with multiple two-person teams from each school competing and each member of each team running half of the 6K course.  Nicholls, Southland Conference rival Southeastern Louisiana, in-state rival Southern and host McNeese made up the field

The Nicholls women boasted two of the top three teams as Emily Charlesworth and Jessica McLeod teamed up for a time of 20:39, just 15 seconds off the winning pace of McNeese duo Alvy Carragher and Amy Guinn.  Seniors Lauren Jones and Kadi Whisnant werent' too far behind in third as the Colonel upper classmen clocked in at 20:45.

The Colonels will return to action on Saturday, Sept. 18 when Nicholls heads to the University of Alabama for the Crimson Classic, one of the largest and most prestigious annual cross country meets in the South.