All-Time Southland Cross Country Honor Roll Announced
Southland Conference
FRISCO, Texas – The Southland Conference, as part of its year-long 50th Anniversary commemoration, has announced its All-Time Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Honor Roll. The announcement comes prior to the Southland’s 5oth Men’s and 29th Women’s Cross Country Championships, to be held Friday in Lake Charles, La.
The honor roll includes 66 elite student-athletes, 45 men and 21 women, that have impacted the sport since the league began sponsorship of the sports in 1964 (men) and 1985 (women). All Southland meet champions are recognized on the honor roll. Additionally, eight men’s and women’s coaches were recognized for their historic contributions to the sport.
“The Southland Conference has a rich tradition in cross country throughout our history, and we’re pleased to recognize such an illustrious honor roll of great student-athletes and coaches,” league commissioner Tom Burnett said.
Each of the Southland Conference men’s and women’s meet champions is included on the Honor Roll, including Abilene Christian’s Bruce Johnson, who won the inaugural 1964 meet and followed that with the 1966 individual title. As a key part of ACU’s 1966 squad, Johnson and the Wildcats advanced to the NCAA Championship, finishing 14th among the nation’s best squads.
Other repeat winners named to men’s honor roll are Louisiana-Lafayette’s Tom Nolan (1973, 1974), McNeese State’s Pat O’Callaghan (1975, 1976) and David Kohrs (1977, 1978), Arkansas State’s Steve Wilson (1980, 1981), and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi’s Shadrack Songok (2006, 2007) and Patrick Kimeli (2010, 2011).
Songok, a 2013 inductee into the Southland Conference Hall of Honor, put together consecutive Top-20 finishes at the 2006 and 2007 NCAA Championship meet, earning 19th place in 2006 and a seventh-place finish in 2007, the all-time national best for a Southland runner. Lamar’s Francis Kasagule, the 2009 Southland champion, is the only league runner to compete in the NCAA Championship four straight years (2006-09). McNeese State’s David Rooney, a three-time NCAA qualifier, won the 2012 Southland title while setting the league’s 8,000-meters course record of 23 minutes, 33 second
On the women’s side, McNeese State’s Sita Waru was a three-time Southland individual champion (1999, 2000, 2001), and qualified for the NCAA Championship each year. She later went on to coach Lamar’s men’s and women’s teams to six total Southland championships and earned six Southland Coach of the Year honors. Louisiana-Monroe’s Nicola Roff-Ratcliffe was also a three-time Southland women’s champion (1987, 1988, 1989) and participated in the 1987 and 1989 NCAA Championships.
Other multiple Southland women’s champions have included McNeese State’s Sarah Salmon (1997, 1998), Clerk Koenck of Lamar (2006, 2007) and three standouts from Stephen F. Austin: Ana Rodriguez (2002, 2003), Ashley Monteau (2004, 2005) and Lauren Smith (2011, 2012).
In addition to Waru, other outstanding coaches have included current Texas A&M-Corpus Christi leader Shawn Flanagan, who’s led teams to 11 league titles and is a 10-time Southland Coach of the Year during his previous tenure at Texas-San Antonio and his current stay in Corpus Christi. Abilene Christian’s Bill McClure led the Wildcats to the first seven Southland men’s championships (1964-70), and Stephen F. Austin’s Lou Snelling led his men’s (2003, 2004, 2005) and women’s (2003, 2009, 2010) teams to six crowns.
Lamar’s Sonny Jolly led the Cardinals to five men’s championships (1979, 1981-84), and McNeese State’s Bob Hayes led his Cowboys to four Southland titles (1973, 1975, 1976, 1978), and he coached McNeese teams that qualified for the 1973 and 1976 NCAA Championships.
Southland Conference 50th Anniversary All-time Cross Country Honor Roll
Men’s Team (45)
Maya Aden, Louisiana-Monroe
2004 Champion; 2004 Athlete of the Year
Randy Arias, Texas State
2001 Champion; 2001 Athlete of the Year; Finished 41st in 2001 NCAA Championship Meet
Herman Atkins, Arkansas State
1968 Champion; Participated in the 1968 NCAA Championship Meet
Wayne Badgley, Abilene Christian
1965 Champion
Jimmy Balmer, Texas-Arlington
1990 Champion; 1990 Athlete of the Year
Roger Barker, Louisiana Tech
1979 Champion; Participated in 1980 NCAA Championship Meet, finishing 67th
Jason Buie, Texas-Arlington
1996 Champion; 1996 Athlete of the Year
Pedro Caceras, Lamar
1983 Champion
Paul Chandler, Abilene Christian
1971 Champion
Joel Chemwetich, Texas-Arlington
1985 Champion
Cody Clark, Stephen F. Austin
2005 Champion; 2005 Athlete of the Year
Rafael Colemenares, Lamar
1984 Champion
Larry Cuzzort, McNeese State
Participated in 1976 and 1977 (finished 50th) at NCAA Championship Meet
Nathan Flores, Stephen F. Austin
2002 Champion; 2002 Athlete of the Year; Participated in 2003 NCAA Championship Meet
Dylan Fugitt, North Texas
1989 Champion; 1989 Athlete of the Year
Gerry Garcia, Lamar
1970 Champion; Participated in 1969 (finished 23rd) and 1970 (44th) NCAA Championship Meets
Bob Giersbert, Arkansas State
1967 Champion
Miguel Gonzales, Sam Houston State
1992 Champion; 1992 Athlete of the Year
Robert Gray, Arkansas State
1969 Champion; Set Southland Championship record for Four-Mile course (19:12 in 1969); Participated in 1969 (finished 25th) and 1970 NCAA Championship Meets
David Hartman, Texas-San Antonio
1995 Champion; 1995 Athlete of the Year; Participated in the 1995 NCAA Championship Meet
Matt Johnsen, Lamar
2013 Champion; 2013 Athlete of the Year; Advanced to the 2010, 2011 and 2012 NCAA Championship meet, finished 33rd nationally in 2012; 2010 Freshman of the Year
Bruce Johnson, Abilene Christian
Won first Championship in 1964, and followed that with 1966 individual title; Helped ACU team to 14th Place finish at 1966 NCAA Championships; Part of 1965 ACU team that set a team-winning championship best of 19 total points
Francis Kasagule, Lamar
2009 Champion; 2009 Athlete of the Year; 2006 Freshman of the Year; Participated in four straight NCAA Championship Meets: 2006 (finished 29th), 2007 (24th), 2008 and 2009 NCAA Championship Meets; Finished eighth at 2008 South Central Regional
Patrick Kimeli, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
2010 and 2011 Champion; 2010 and 2011 Athlete of the Year; Participated in 2010 and 2011 NCAA Championship Meets
David Kohrs, McNeese State
1977 and 1978 Champion; Participated in 1975, 1976 and 1978 NCAA Championship Meets
Samuel Kosgei, Lamar
2008 Champion; 2008 Athlete of the Year; 2006 Newcomer of the Year; Finished 37th in 2008 NCAA Championship Meet after a second place finish at South Central Regional; Finished 55th at 2006 NCAA Championship Meet
Rodger Krueger, Texas-Arlington
1993 Champion; 1993 Athlete of the Year
Tom McGrath, McNeese State
1988 Champion
Pat McSweeney, McNeese State
1972 Champion
Ben Melly, Texas-Arlington
1987 Champion; Participated in 1987 NCAA Championship Meet
Dennis Moynihan, Texas State
1994 Champion; 1994 Athlete of the Year
Jonah Ngeny, North Texas
1986 Champion; Set Southland Championship record for Five-Mile course (24:08 in 1986); Finished 59th at 1986 NCAA Championship Meet
Tom Nolan, Louisiana-Lafayette
1973 and 1974 Champion; Led Cajuns team to 1971 NCAA Championship Meet
Pat O’Callaghan, McNeese State
1975 and 1976 Champion; Helped lead McNeese team to 1973 and 1976 NCAA Championship Meets; Also participated in 1974 NCAA Championship Meet; Set Southland Championship record for 10000-Meters course (30:19 in 1975)
Mike Plumb, Lamar
1982 Champion
David Rooney, McNeese State
2012 Champion; 2012 Athlete of the Year; Finished seventh at 2012 NCAA Championship Meet, matching all-time best finish for Southland athlete; Also participated in 2009 (58th) and 2010 (50th) NCAA Championship Meet; Set Southland Championship record for 8000-Meter course (23:33 in 2012)
Michael Sang, Southeastern Louisiana
2000 Champion; 2000 Athlete of the Year
Joshua Sawe, McNeese State
2009 Newcomer of the Year; Participated in 2009 NCAA Championship Meet
Henrik Skoog, Texas-Arlington
1998 Champion; 1998 Athlete of the Year; Participated in 1998 NCAA Championship Meet
Kevin Smelley, Nicholls State
1999 Champion; 1999 Athlete of the Year
Shadrack Songok, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
2006 and 2007 Champion; 2006 and 2007 Athlete of the Year; 2006 and 2007 NCAA Central Regional Champion; Placed 19th in 2006 and seventh in 2007 NCAA Championship, best-ever up to that point for a Southland athlete; 2013 inductee in Southland Conference Hall of Honor
Ryan Taylor, Texas-San Antonio
1997 Champion; 1997 Athlete of the Year; Led UTSA to 20th place team finish at the 1997 NCAA Championship Meet; Finished 42nd individually in 1997 NCAA Meet
Thomas Teger, Texas-Arlington
1991 Champion
Michael Thompson, Stephen F. Austin
2003 Champion; 2003 Athlete of the Year; Finished 37th at 2003 NCAA Championship Meet
Steve Wilson, Arkansas State
1980 and 1981 Champion; Participated in 1980 NCAA Championship Meet
Women’s Team (20)
Rosita Astrom, Lamar
Won inaugural 1985 Championship
Becky Brooke, Lamar
1986 Champion
Brooke Cassar, Central Arkansas
2013 Champion; 2013 Athlete of the Year; 2013 Freshman of the Year
Renee Graham, Lamar
Participated in 2005, 2006 and 2007 NCAA Championship Meets
Liza Marie Hunter, Texas-San Antonio
1992 Champion; Participated in 1992 NCAA Championship Meet
Joanne Kineard, Texas-San Antonio
1991 Champion
Clerc Koenck, Lamar
2006 and 2007 Champion; Participated in 2007 NCAA Championship Meet
Emily Koenig, Texas-Arlington
2010 Champion
Dana Mecke, Texas-San Antonio
2008 Champion
Ashley Monteau, Stephen F. Austin
2004 and 2005 Champion; Participated in 2004 (finished 75th) and 2005 (90th) NCAA Championship Meets; Set Southland Championship record for 6000-Meters course (20:24.27 in 2004)
Angela Nelson, Texas-Arlington
1993 Champion; Participated in 1992 NCAA Championship Meet
Stacy Poole, Texas-San Antonio
1996 Champion; Part of UTSA’s 19th place team finish at the 1996 NCAA Championship Meet, the only time an entire Southland team has advanced to the national championship; Poole’s was part of the 1996 UTSA team that set a Southland meet record for low winning points (21)
Ana Rodriguez, Stephen F. Austin
2002 and 2003 Champion
Nicola Roff-Ratcliffe, Louisiana-Monroe
1987, 1988 and 1989 Champion; Participated in the 1987 and 1989 NCAA Championship Meets; Set Southland Championship record for three-mile course (17:02 in 1987)
Anne Ronoh, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
2009 Champion; Participated in 2008 and 2009 NCAA Championship Meet; Finished 11th at 2008 South Central Regional; 2008 Newcomer of the Year
Frida Rosenberg, Texas-Arlington
1995 Champion
Renee Rowell, Stephen F. Austin
1990 Champion
Sarah Salmon, McNeese State
1997 and 1998 Champion; Participated in the 1997 (finished 21st, all-time Southland best) and 1998 NCAA Championship Meets
Lauren Smith, Stephen F. Austin
2011 and 2012 Champion; Participated in 2012 NCAA Championship Meet; 2010 Newcomer of the Year
Janice Turner, Texas State
1994 Champion; Participated in the 1994 NCAA Championship Meet, finishing 59th; Set Southland Championship record for 5000-Meters course (17:06 in 1994)
Sita Waru, McNeese State
1999, 2000 and 2001 Champion; Participated in 1999 (finished 34th), 2000 (43rd) and 2001 (54th) NCAA Championship Meets; Honored as both a student-athlete and a coach
All-Time Cross Country Coaches
Bob Cole, Louisiana-Lafayette
Led Ragin’ Cajuns program to three Southland men’s championships in 1971, 1972 and 1974; Led team to 1971 NCAA Championship Meet, finishing 30th among the nation’s best teams
Shawn Flanagan, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi/Texas-San Antonio
Eight-time women’s and two-time men’s Coach of the Year selection by his peers during his tenure at two Southland schools; Earned five women’s Coach of the Year and two men’s Coach of the Year honors at UTSA while leading women’s team to Southland titles in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995, and men’s crowns in 1995 and 1996; Added three women’s Coach of the Year honors while leading A&M-Corpus Christi to championships in 2007, 2008 and 2011; Also led team to 2009 women’s championship
Ken Garland, North Texas
1989 Women’s Coach of the Year while leading North Texas to Southland title; Added three Men’s Coach of the Year honors after winning 1990, 1991 and 1994 championships
Bob Hayes, McNeese State
Led McNeese to four Southland Conference Men’s Championships in 1973, 1975, 1976 and 1978; His 1973 and 1976 teams competed fully at the NCAA Championship Meet
Sonny Jolly, Lamar
Led program to five men’s Southland championships in 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1984; Coached three straight individual Conference championships from 1982-84; Member of the Southland Conference Hall of Honor
Bill McClure, Abilene Christian
Led ACU to first seven Southland Conference Men’s Championships (1964-1970); Also led Southland’s first-ever team participation in an NCAA Championship Meet, as Wildcats finished 14th among national field
Lou Snelling, Stephen F. Austin
Earned three Southland Men’s Coach of the Year Awards (2003, 2004, 2005) while leading Lumberjacks to league championships, and three Women’s Coach of the Year honors (2003, 2009 and 2010) as Ladyjacks won crowns in 2003 and 2010
Sita Waru, Lamar
Former Southland cross country and track and field standout won three Men’s Coach of the Year Awards after leading Cardinals to 2006, 2007 and 2008 Southland championships; Also won 2004, 2005 and 2006 Women’s Coach of the Year honors after leading Lady Cardinals to league titles; Honored as both a student-athlete and a coach on the 50th Anniversary Honor Roll