HAMMOND – In the final meet for the Southland Conference Championships, sophomore Joseph LeGrange and junior Bethany Burstwere the top finishers for the Southeastern Louisiana cross country teams in Saturday's McNeese Cowboy Stampede at the Enos Derbonne Sports Complex.
The Lady Lions fifth, while the Southeastern men's team posted a sixth-place finish. McNeese State's men and Nicholls State's women earned team titles.
“We're a little less than a month from the Southland Conference Championships, so we'll be training hard to prepare,” Southeastern assistant coach Ryan Bourque commented. “We've seen some positive things over the last couple of meets. Our women's team, in particular, has put together two strong meets the last two weekends.”
Burst led the Lady Lions with a 12th-place finish, covering the 5K distance in 18:33. Senior Naomi Jeruto was right behind Burst in 15thwith a time of 18:41. Sophomore Heather Fitzhenry (19:00, 21st), sophomore Emily McAfee (19:42, 31st), junior Lindsey Toups (19:46, 32nd), senior Brittany Blackmon (20:03, 37th) and freshman C'Arra Watts (21:37, 50th) also competed for the Lady Lions.
LeGrange was the Lions' top finisher for the third straight meet, finishing 19th with a time of 20:55.48. Sophomore Matt Mouton (21:11, 24th), sophomore Paul Arthur (23:21, 48th), freshman Corey O'Dell (24:04, 51st) and freshman Tyler Waggenspack (24:05, 52nd) were the other Lion competitors.
Southeastern will compete in the league meet on Oct. 30 in Nacogdoches, Texas.
Men's Team Standings
1. McNeese State – 27
2. LSU – 33
3. Tulane – 71
4. Louisiana-Lafayette – 122
5. Nicholls State – 145
6. Southeastern Louisiana – 149
7. Southern – 203
8. Southern-N.O. – 225
Men's Individual Standings
(Southeastern runners only)
19. Joseph LeGrange – 20:55.48
24. Matt Mouton – 21:11
48. Paul Arthur – 23:21
51. Corey O'Dell – 24:04
52. Tyler Waggenspack – 24:05
Women's Team Standings
1. Nicholls State – 51
2. McNeese State – 53
3. LSU – 68
4. Tulane – 69
5. Southeastern Louisiana – 104
6. Louisiana-Lafayette – 170
7. Southern-N.O. – 209
8. Southern – 233
Women's Individual Standings
(Southeastern runners only)
12. Bethany Burst – 18:33
15. Naomi Jeruto – 18:41
21. Heather Fitzhenry – 19:00
31. Emily McAfee – 19:42
32. Lindsey Toups – 19:46
37. Brittany Blackmon – 20:03
50. C'Arra Watts – 21:37