Rooney, Smith Named Southland Cross Country Athletes of the Year
FRISCO, Texas – McNeese State senior David Rooney and Stephen F. Austin senior Lauren Smith were named the Southland cross country athletes of the year by vote of the league’s head coaches Thursday.
Rooney, the Dublin, Ireland, native finished the 8-kilometer race in a time of 23 minutes, 33 seconds to break the Southland record of 23:54 set in 2009 by Lamar’s Francis Kasagule. The McNeese senior was the first Cowboy to win an individual title since 1988 and the first Cowboy ever to win the athlete of the year award.
Smith, a Lake Jackson, Texas, native won the athlete of the year award for the second consecutive year, becoming the first to complete such an accomplishment since Clerc Koenck of Lamar did it in 2006-07. The senior clocked a 20:59.1 in the 6K race, seven-and-a-half seconds better than Alyssa Dooley of Sam Houston State (21:07.6).
Edward Limo of Central Arkansas and Danielle Burchett of Stephen F. Austin claimed the men’s and women’s newcomer of the year awards.
Limo, a Eldoret, Kenya, native, is the first Central Arkansas representative to claim the honor. Limo finished eighth in the 8K race in a time of 24:24.1. Danielle Burchett, an Arlington, Texas, native, is the first Ladyjack to win the award since Smith accomplished the feat in 2010. Burchett was named newcomer of the year after she placed 15th in the Southland championships by covering 6K in 22:27.4.
Stephen Kerr is the first McNeese runner to be named men’s freshman of the year. The Armagh, Ireland, native, completed the 8K course in a time of 25:09.8, which was good for 21st, while McNeese won its eighth title in school history.
Solenn Riou is the first Bearkat runner to be named women’s freshman of the year. The Nantes, France, native, finished seventh while the Bearkats finished second in the closest finish in Southland since 1994. Riou was one of three Sam Houston runners to finish in the top 10.
McNeese State coach Brendon Gilroy was named men’s coach of the year after the Cowboys placed six runners in the top 11 to take first place at the Southland cross country championships. Gilroy, who led McNeese to its first title since 2000 and its eighth overall, is the first McNeese coach to earn the honor since 2000.
Stephen F. Austin coach Cody Clark was named women’s coach of the year after the Ladyjacks placed two runners in the top three and four in the top 15. Stephen F. Austin coaches have won women’s coach of the year three times in the last four years and six times in the last 12 years.
The top-10 finishers in each race earned All-Southland Conference honors.
Individual Award Winners
Male Athlete of the Year: David Rooney, McNeese State
Female Athlete of the Year: Lauren Smith, Stephen F. Austin
Male Newcomer of the Year: Edward Limo, Central Arkansas
Female Newcomer of the Year: Danielle Burchett, Stephen F. Austin
Male Freshman of the Year: Stephen Kerr, McNeese State
Female Freshman of the Year: Solenn Riou, Sam Houston State
Men’s Coach of the Year: Brendon Gilroy, McNeese State
Women’s Coach of the Year: Cody Clark, Stephen F. Austin
Men’s Cross Country All-Conference Team
Name, School, Class
David Rooney, McNeese State, Senior
Alex Bruce-Littlewood, McNeese State, Senior
Jarrett LeBlanc, McNeese State, Senior
Patrick Kimeli, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Senior
Matt Johnsen,, Lamar, Junior
Xavier Rodriguez, Stephen F. Austin, Senior
Benjamin Gerber, Central Arkansas, Junior
Edward Limo, Central Arkansas, Junior
Alex Kiptoo, McNeese State, Sophomore
Daniel Cliffe, McNeese State, Junior
Women’s Cross Country All-Conference Team
Name, School, Class
1. Lauren Smith, Stephen F. Austin, Senior
2. Alyssa Dooley, Sam Houston State, Junior
3. Randi Plentl, Sr. SFA, Stephen F. Austin, Senior
4. BreAnna Briggs, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Senior
5. Tessni Carruthers, Nicholls State, Graduate
6. Claire Miles, Lamar, Senior
7. Solenn Riou, Sam Houston State, Freshman
8. Ana Moreno, Sam Houston State, Freshman
9. Samantha Watson, Oral Roberts, Sophomore
10. Cecilia Gonzalez, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Junior