With all eight runners finishing in the Top 15 of the Northwestern State Demons Invitational on Friday at the Walter Ledet Track Complex in Natchitoches, the Ragin’ Cajuns women’s cross country team claimed the team championship in the squad’s final run before the Sun Belt Championships.

The Ragin’ Cajuns men’s cross country team received five Top 20 finishes en route to a runner-up finish in the event.

The men and women ran three miles in their first action since the McNeese Cowboy Stampede on Oct. 1 in Lake Charles.

April Colomb paced the Cajuns women traversing three miles in 19:46.7 for a third-place finish. She was one of six Cajuns to finish in the Top 10.

Zach France headlined the Cajuns men, clocking a three-mile time of 15:24.0 which placed him third in the event.

Track and Field/Cross Country head coach Lon Badeaux was pleased with the results and felt both squads now know where they stand heading into the Sun Belt Championships scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 29 in Bowling Green, Ky.

"Coming off three weeks from our last meet, I felt like we were rusty and made a few mistakes," Badeaux said. "I was pleased with the results, be we will have to do a better job as a team if we are going to be successful at the conference meet next weekend."

Other UL women in the Top 10 were Michon Meche 4th at 19:47.0, Petrona Layne 5th at 19:48.4, Lauren Broussard 7th at 20:03.5, Katie Kidd 9th at 20:19.1 and Jolee Bonneval 10th at 20:22.6.

The Cajuns led the women’s team scoring with 28 points, followed by Northwestern State in second place with 29 points, Louisiana Tech third with 93 points, then Centenary (114), East Texas Baptist (123), Louisiana College (168) and Wiley College (192).

Joining France as Cajuns men finishing in the Top 20 were Kail Kidd (11th, 16:29.1), Jacob Delahoussaye (17th, 16:48.3), Cody Tilley (19th, 16:51.9) and Courtland Privat (20th, 17:04.7).

Louisiana Tech took team honors on the men’s side with 23 points, followed by Louisiana with 58 points and Northwestern State in third with 67 points. East Texas Baptist was fourth with 134 points, followed by Centenary (149) and Wiley College (158). With only three participating runners, Louisiana College did not record a score.

RAGIN’ CAJUNS MEN’S 3 MILE RESULTS (43 total runners)
3) Zach France (15:24.0)
11) Kail Kidd (16:29.1)
17) Jacob Delahoussaye (16:48.3)
19) Cody Tilley (16:51.9)
20) Courtland Privat (17:04.7)
24) Justin Arsement (17:17.6)
28) Patrick Spiller (17:43.0)

RAGIN’ CAJUNS WOMEN’S 3 MILE RESULTS (46 runners)
3) April Colomb (19:46.7)
4) Michon Meche (19:47.0)
5) Petrona Layne (19:48.4)
7) Lauren Broussard (20:03.5)
9) Katie Kidd (20:19.1)
10) Jolee Bonneval (20:22.6)
11) Hlfti Kahassy (20:37.5)
15) Genevieve Roy (21:00.9)

MEN’S 3 MILE TEAM RESULTS
1) Louisiana Tech 23
2) Louisiana 58
3) Northwestern State 67
4) East Texas Baptist 134
5) Centenary 149
6) Wiley College 158

WOMEN’S 3 MILE TEAM RESULTS
1) Louisiana 28
2) Northwestern State 29
3) Louisiana Tech 93
4) Centenary 114
5) East Texas Baptist 123
6) Louisiana College 168
7) Wiley College 192

— Ragin’ Cajuns —