LAKE CHARLES – Southeastern Louisiana's Joseph LeGrange and Paul Arthur teamed up to produce a fifth-place finish and lead the Lions' cross country team in the season-opening McNeese State Cross Country Relays at the Enos Derbonne Sports Center.

LaGrange and Arthur covered the 6-kilometer course in 18 minutes, 21 seconds to pace the Lions in the seven-team event that included host McNeese State plus Southern, Northwestern State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe and Nicholls State. Jesse McDavitt and Matt Mouton combined to finish 12th in the men's event (19:02) while Shaquille Brown ran individually.

“It was a good opener for us against a pretty solid field,” Southeastern assistant coach Ryan Bourque said. “We had outstanding performances on both sides, along with good marks from Shaquille Brown and (freshman) C'Arra Watts. Now we need to build on this and get ready for next week at Auburn.”

Naomi Jeruto and Brittany Blackmon paced the Lady Lions, finishing 10th overall on the 6K course in 22:16. Emily McAfee and Lindsey Toups finished 14th overall (22:45) while Watts competed individually in her collegiate debut.

Southeastern will return to action on Friday when it travels to Auburn, Ala., to compete in the Auburn Invitational.

SOUTHEASTERN CROSS COUNTRY RESULTS
McNeese State Cowboy Relays
Lake Charles, La. – Sept. 2, 2011

MEN – 6K
Joseph LeGrange/Paul Arthur - 18:21 – 5th
Jesse McDavitt/Matt Mouton - 19:02 – 12th

WOMEN – 6K
Naomi Jeruto/Brittany Blackmon – 22:16 – 10th
Emily McAfee/Lindsey Toups – 22:45 – 14th