WACO, TX – McNeese State's cross country team had two of its top three runners sidelined during Saturday's running of the NCAA south central regional race and neither team finished the way it thought it would.
Fionnuala Ross, the Cowgirls' top runner did not make the trip due to a stomache virus, while Alex Kiptoo, the Cowboys' second best runner, pulled a muscle during the men's race and was unable to finish.
As a result, the Cowboys placed 14th in the men's team scoring with 365 points and the Cowgirls finished 22nd with 545 points in their division.
Texas won the men's title with 40 points and Arkansas took the women's crown with 49 points.
The lead runner for McNeese during the day was Alex Bruce-Littlewood who placed 36th in the men's 10k race with a 32:06.2 effort. Also for the Cowboys, Alex Evans was 57th at 32:55, Lewi Manirumva was 74th at 33:29.4, Drew Kogut 108th at 35:23.7 and Brock Moreau 113th with a 35:49.4 time.
Amy Talbot led the Cowgirls with a 56th place showing of 22:38.8 in the 6K race. Corissa Storms ran 110th at 24:09, Taylor De La Rose ran 123rd at 24:41.1, Lauren Cooper was 128th at 24:48.1, Allison Crawford was 131st at 24:55.2 and Angelina Covington was 132nd at 24:47.8.
The race concluded the cross country season for both the Cowboys and the Cowgirls.