Nov. 1, 2004

BEAUMONT - For the first time in school history the Lamar women's cross country team won a conference title, topping an 11-team field at Monday's Southland Conference Championships at Idylwild Golf Club. The LU men put together an equally impressive performance with a third-place showing which ranks as the best finish since 1989.

Juniors Natasha Williams and Jackie John finished second and third respectively as the Lady Cardinals placed five runners in the top 14. Williams, a native of Nederland, covered the 6,000-meter course in a time of 21:24, while John finished moments later at 21:43. Stephen F. Austin's Ashley Monteau won the individual title with a time of 20:25.

Amanda King also nabbed a top 10 finish, placing seventh in a time of 22:03. Williams, John and King each earned All-SLC honors for their top 10 finish, while Lamar cross country coach Sita Waru was named SLC Women's Coach of the Year.

Freshman Clerc Koenck placed 11th in a time of 22:12 and sophomore Sarah Weir rounded out the scoring for Lamar in 14th after crossing the finish line in 22:33.

The Lady Cardinals' (37) victory snapped a two-year winning streak for SFA, who claimed second with 50 points. Texas-San Antonio (98) secured third, followed by Sam Houston (130) in fourth, Texas-Arlington (136) in fifth, Northwestern State (150) in sixth and Texas State (199) in seventh. Southeastern Louisiana (208) was eighth, McNeese State (227) ninth, Nicholls State (231) 10th and Louisiana-Monroe (283) placed 11th.

Lamar junior Jake Champagne placed 13th in a time of 25:22, leading the men's team to its best finish since 1989. It was also the men's top finish in the SLC since placing second in 1985.

Junior Travis Tolbert was LU's second-best runner on Monday, placing 21st after racing through the 8,000-meter course in a time of 25:48. Freshman Danny Shaw placed 22nd with a 25:49 clocking. ULM's Maya Aden was the individual champion, topping Julian Acuna of Stephen F. Austin by five seconds with a time of 24:09.

SFA (32) won its fourth consecutive men's title after placing four runners in the top seven. Sam Houston (50) was second and Lamar (116) came in third. Texas State (144) was fourth, Texas-Arlington (149) fifth, Southeastern Louisiana (150) was sixth and McNeese State (155) finished seventh. Louisiana-Monroe (177) placed eighth, UTSA (193) was ninth, Northwestern State (293) was 10th and Nicholls State (318) rounded out the field.