BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Daniel Mutai earned all-conference honors with a seventh-place individual finish to lead the ULM men’s cross country team to a fifth-place team finish at the Sun Belt Conference Championships on Saturday (Oct. 30) at Kereiakes Park. The fifth-place finish was the best-ever for the Warhawks since joining the Sun Belt. The ULM women’s cross country team finished 10th led by Madeleine Robertson.
Mutai crossed the line on the men’s 8k course in 25:29.8 to claim seventh overall and earn All-Sun Belt honors. Moses Chelimo was second across the line for the Warhawks, finishing with a time of 25:55.5 taking 14th overall. Seth Hall was third for ULM in 27:48.5, 37th overall. Jorel Torres finished in a time of 28:22.4, earning 50th position. Devin Caldwell was ULM’s fifth runner to finish, taking a time of 29:09.1 for 57th overall. Corey Williams and Jacob Heckford rounded out the ULM contingent, Williams was 59th in 29:23.1 and Heckford was 75th in 33:24.0.
UALR won the men’s team title with 50 points, Shadrack Kipchirchir of Western Kentucky won the men’s individual crown in a time of 24:33.1.
The fifth-place team finish for ULM is the best conference championship finish for ULM since 1997 when it finished fifth at the Southland Conference Championships.
On the women’s side, Robertson was the highest-finishing Warhawk, she took 39th-place, traversing the 5k course in a time of 19:57.7. Close behind Robertson were Denise Myers and Tyler Blacklock, Myers took 41st; crossing the line in 20:03.0 and Blacklock was 42nd in 20:03.3. The fourth finisher for ULM was Ariana Jones, she claimed 52nd overall in a time of 20:32.9, while Lauren Rosson was fifth for the Warhawks, 63rd overall, in 21:04.2.
Western Kentucky claimed the team championship on the women’s side, scoring 39 points. The individual women’s champion was Western Kentucky’s Marion Kandie; she finished the course in a time of 17:34.3.
The Warhawks will return to action on Saturday, Nov. 13, when they travel to the NCAA Regional Championships in Waco, Texas.
Men’s Results
ULM Individuals
7. Daniel Mutai – 25:29.8
14. Moses Chelimo – 25:55.5
37. Seth Hall – 27:48.5
50. Jorel Torres – 28:22.4
57. Devin Caldwell – 29:09.1
59. Corey Williams – 29:23.1
75. Jacob Heckford – 33:24.0
Team Standings
1. UALR – 50
2. Middle Tennessee – 76
3. South Alabama – 97
4. Western Kentucky – 124
5. ULM – 162
6. North Texas – 167
7. Florida Atlantic – 172
8t. Arkansas State – 175
8t. Troy – 175
10. FIU – 235
11. UL-Lafayette - 299
Women’s Results
ULM Individuals
39. Madeleine Robertson – 19:57.7
41. Denise Myers – 20:03.0
42. Tyler Blacklock – 20:03.3
52. Ariana Jones – 20:32.9
63. Lauren Rosson – 21:04.2
Team Standings
1. Western Kentucky – 39
2. Florida Atlantic – 86
3. Arkansas State – 94
4. Middle Tennessee – 100
5. South Alabama – 154
6. North Texas – 157
7. Troy – 161
8. UALR – 213
9. FIU – 215
10. ULM – 232
11. UL-Lafayette – 252