Oct. 31, 2005

2005 Southland Cross Country Championships
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NATCHITOCHES, La. - Led by a pair of freshmen, the Lamar Lady Cardinals cross country team repeated as champions Monday at the 21st Southland Conference Women's Cross Country Championships held at Demon Hills Golf Club.

Lamar, who won its first SLC women's cross country title last season at Idylwild Golf Club, placed five runners among the top 11 finishers in claiming its second straight title. The Lamar men's team finished in sixth place in the 42nd running of the SLC men's cross country championships.

"I'm very excited with the way we ran in this meet," said assistant track coach Sita Waru, who coaches the cross country teams. "We took control of the meet early and held on to our lead. The ladies executed the race exactly the way we wanted them to."

Freshman Renee Graham posted a second place finish to pace the Lady Cardinals. A native of Hawera, New Zealand, Graham covered the 6,000-meter course in a time of 21:55. Ashley Monteau of Stephen F. Austin won her second straight individual title with a 20:54 clocking.

"It was really cool to help the team get their second ring," Graham said. "I am really happy with the way I ran. Being a freshman and having the success I had is wonderful. Hopefully, I will leave Lamar with four conference championship rings."

Freshman Stacey Monteau, the younger sister of SFA's Ashley Monteau, finished third for the Lady Cardinals. A native of Anahuac, Monteau covered the course in a time of 22:15. Amanda King, a junior from Tauranga, New Zealand, was fourth in a time of 22:19. Jacqueline John, a senior from Iowa, La., was sixth with a 22:29 clocking.

Natasha Williams, a senior from Nederland, placed 11th in a time of 22:57. Amber Prather, a sophomore from Houston, finished in 31st place in a time of 24:27. Clerc Koenck, a sophomore from Anacoco, La., was 33rd in a time of 24:36.

"This was a season with a lot of adversity, and to win a conference title after going through every thing this team has gone through is a testament to the ladies we have on this team," said head track coach Trey Clark, in reference to the team having to train at Blinn Junior College for almost two weeks after evacuating for Hurricane Rita.

Aided by five of the top 11 finishers, Lamar posted a team score of 26 points, which was 11 points better than last year, when the Lady Cardinals won with 37 points. SFA was second with 49 points, followed by Texas-Arlington with 76 points. Sam Houston State was fourth with 98 points, Texas-San Antonio was fifth (101), Texas State was sixth (184), host Northwestern State was seventh (198), Louisiana-Monroe was eighth (216), Southeastern Louisiana was ninth (239) and McNeese State was 10th (296). Nicholls State did not have the requisite five runners to compete for the team title.

Junior Danny Shaw finished in third place to lead the men's team. Shaw, a native of Wellington, New Zealand, covered the 8,000-meter course in a time of 25:51. Cody Clark of SFA won the individual title with a time of 25:34. McNeese's Damien Bateman was second at 25:46.

Jake Champagne, a senior from Port Neches, placed 25th with a time of 27:12. Ben McBride, a junior from Fannett, was 32nd in a time of 27:36. Hamish Meacham, a junior from Hamilton, New Zealand, finished in 36th place in a time of 28:01. Doyle Bean rounded out Lamar's harriers with a 51st place finish in a time of 29:38.

In winning if fifth straight SLC championship, SFA posted a team score of 28 with all five of its scored runners finishing among the Top 10. Sam Houston was second with 59 points and McNeese State was third with 83. Texas State finished in fourth place with 112 points, UTA was fifth (139), Lamar was sixth (144), UTSA was seventh (149), SE Louisiana was eighth (215), host Northwestern State was ninth (217) and UL-Monroe was 10th (267). Nicholls State had only four competitors and did not record a team score.