Runners competed on a very wet and soggy course Saturday afternoon at the 2009 Sun Belt Conference Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championship as Western Kentucky University won the women’s championship for the fourth straight year and Middle Tennessee took home the men’s title.
For the Cajuns, Reese Lee was the high finisher, coming in 44th place with a time of 30:06.40 out of 80 racers. On the women’s side it, Katie Roland was the high finisher with a time of 22:37.19, which put her in 34th place out of 80 runners.
As a team the UL women finished in 10th place out of 11 teams. The UL men came in 11th place.
WKU’s Janet Jesang repeated as individual champion, and her third straight overall, in the women’s race with a time of 19:09.83. She led the charge of four Lady Toppers that finished in the top fourteen as Marion Kandie finished second, Eimear O’Brien finished 11th, and Michelle Finn finished 14th. The Lady Toppers finished with a total of 53 points in winning their fourth consecutive Cross Country Championship.
Middle Tennessee took second place in the women’s race as Zamzam Sangau took third overall in a time of 19:49.09. Marla Bailey finished fourth for the Blue Raiders.
In the men’s race South Alabama’s Zac Edwards crossed the finish line first on the muddy course. Edwards finished with a time of 26:10.91 in helping South Alabama to a second place team finish. Micah Tirop who had won the individual championship the previous two years finished fourth overall.
Middle Tennessee had five runners finish in the top eleven of the men’s race – led by Festus Chemaoi who finish second overall. Middle Tennessee finished with a total of 36 points.
WKU’s Michelle Scott and Middle Tennessee’s Dean Hayes were respectively chosen as the league’s Women’s and Men’s Cross Country Coaches of the Year.
South Alabama took home both Freshman of the year awards with Alex Shields winning it for the men and Tori Lawson for the Women.
Women’s Individual Champion: Janet Jesang, WKU
Men’s Individual Champion: Zac Edwards, South Alabama
Men’s Coach of the Year: Dean Hayes, WKU
Women’s Coach of the Year: Michelle Scott, WKU
Men’s Freshman of the Year: Alex Shields, South Alabama
Women’s Freshman of the Year: Tori Lawson, South Alabama
Women’s Championship Team Results
|
Team
|
Points
|
|
1. WKU
|
53
|
|
2. Middle Tennessee
|
65
|
|
3. North Texas
|
98
|
|
4. Florida Atlantic
|
103
|
|
5. UALR
|
141
|
|
6. Arkansas State
|
142
|
|
7. South Alabama
|
152
|
|
8. Troy
|
166
|
|
9. Louisiana-Monroe
|
229
|
|
10. Louisiana-Lafayette
|
239
|
|
11. Florida International
|
302
|
UL Individual Women’s Results
34. Katie Roland, 22:37.19
40. Michon Meche, 22:46.23
58. Callie Picou, 23:46.56
65. Torri Choate, 24.11.35
69. Jenna Picou, 24:32.51
Men’s Championship Team Results
|
Team
|
Points
|
|
1. Middle Tennessee
|
36
|
|
2. South Alabama
|
43
|
|
3. UALR
|
86
|
|
3. North Texas
|
158
|
|
5. Troy
|
161
|
|
6. WKU
|
159
|
|
7. Florida Atlantic
|
181
|
|
8. Arkansas State
|
185
|
|
9. Louisiana-Monroe
|
194
|
|
10. Florida International
|
210
|
|
11. Louisiana-Lafayette
|
280
|
UL Individual Men’s results
44. Reese Lee, 30:06.40
48. Zach France, 30:10.66
60. Chase Menard, 30:51.08
67. Kail Kidd, 31:21.01
69. Robert Willie, 31:47.49
71. Matt Meche, 32:02.32
75. Geoffrey Goudeau, 32:59.97
77. Stuart Theriot, 33:23.01
