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Walkow Named SLC Freshman of the Year
Nov. 4, 2009
FRISCO, Texas - Lamar student-athletes and coaches claimed four of the eight specialty awards for the 2009 Southland Conference Cross Country season by a vote of the league's head coaches on Wednesday in conjunction with the release of the all-conference teams and award winners.
Samantha Walkow picked up her first SLC honor by being named Freshman of the Year. Walkow, a native of Surrey, Canada, led all freshman and was the top women's runner for Lamar at the Southland championships posting a 21:20 for fourth overall. Walkow was the lead runner for the Lady Cardinals in two of their three regular-season events with a sixth-place finish at LSU. She is the fourth different student-athlete to win the award - all from different schools - since it began in 2006.
"I am excited for her after she ran a great race on Saturday," Stewart said. "I thought she could be al all-conference performer but to pick up freshman of the year honors is a great way to be rewarded for her hard work." Senior Francis Kasagule was named the Men's Athlete of the Year, Bob Abimbisibwe took home Freshman of the Year honors for the second time in four years joining Kasagule who won the inaugural award in 2006. The Cardinals were also honored with their fourth consecutive Coach of the Year award as Jake Stewart picked up his first career accolade following three consecutive by former Lamar coach Sita Waru-Ewell. Kasagule, a native of Gayhza, Uganda, ran a 23:54 in the 8-kilometer run taking home first-place at the 2009 Southland Cross Country Championships in Corpus Christi, Texas. Kasagule, who placed second in the 2007 and 2008 championships, is the sixth Lamar runner and second straight to win the men's event at the Southland championships. The win gave Lamar its fourth consecutive conference cross country title and added to its league-leading ninth overall.
Abimbisibwe, a native of Kampala, Uganda, led all freshman at the cross country championships with an eighth-place finish (24:24). The top-10 finishers in each race earned All-Southland Conference honors, which included Kasagule, Ahimbisibwe, Joonas Harjamaki and Drew Bean for the men. Walkow was the lone Lady Cardinal all-league selection for the women. Both Lamar squads will participate in the NCAA South Central Regional meet, next Saturday, Nov. 14, in Waco, Texas at Baylor University.
Individual Award Winners
Women's Cross Country All-Conference Team |
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