SHREVEPORT - Lawana Perkins was the top Louisiana runner and third overall Saturday morning, setting the pace for Northwestern State at the Centenary College Invitational cross country meet.
Perkins covered the 6K path at the Disc Golf Course on Clyde Fant Parkway in 23:19, trailing only Ingrid Mollenkept (22:10) and Sara Dietz of North Texas. Teammate Ali Fontenot also posted a top 10 finish with a 25:00 time for 10th. The other three scoring runners for the Lady Demons were Andrea Warren, 15th in 25:24; Sarah Emory, 24th in 26:36; and Becca Meehan, 33rd with a 27:48 time. Also competing for the NSU women were Courtney Herschberger (34th, 27:59) and Samantha Newell (42nd, 29:01). Standout Karensa Ellis, the defending champion, did not compete due to illness. Grambling won the women's team title with 52 points, followed by North Texas (57), Lon Morris (80), Northwestern (85), Louisiana Tech (123), LeTourneau (158), East Texas Baptist (169), Centenary (191), Louisiana College 291) and Wiley College, which did not finish five runners and failed to score. For the Demons, their top runner was again Mark Dotson, who took 11th in 26:34 over an 8k course. Patrick Strong of UNT won in 25:02. Also on the scorecard for the Northwestern men were Jason Enright (23rd, 27:51); Chris Lanier (28th, 28:34), Travis Plumb (29th, 28:35) and Dusty Dischler (35th, 29:17). Kyle Lessig also ran for the Demons, clocking 30:12 for 43rd place. Louisiana Tech won the men's race with 43 points, with North Texas second with 62. Lon Morris followed with 85, trailed by Grambling (87), Northwestern (126), Centenary (181), LeTourneau (232), East Texas Baptist (241) and Wiley, with no score. The final regular-season competition for NSU comes next Friday at 4 p.m. with the Demon Invitational at the Walter Ledet Track Complex.