NEW ORLEANS – Once again, the Lamar Cardinals found themselves atop the leaderboard in the Southland Women's Cross Country Championship, claiming the title for the second straight year. Additionally, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi freshman Elizabeth Khatevi led the entire field, taking first place overall.
The team victory solidifies Lamar's seventh SLC Championship, pushing them to second in SLC history behind SFA who owns eight. Lamar also becomes the first team to secure consecutive championships since Central Arkansas in 2019 and 2020.
Nia Clatworthy second overall and first among the Cardinals first with a time of 20:35.47 followed by Cara Inch who clocked a sixth place finish at 21:16.19. Inca Padfield finished eighth overall with a 21:34.83 while earning Newcomer of the Year honors. Emma Powell and Annabel Habday rounded out the Cardinals' scoring with times of 22:10.92 and 22:15.35 in 13 and 14th place respectively.
Lamar head coach Andrew Sweeney earned the conference's Coach of the Year award.
Khatevi claimed first with a time of 20:30.98, moving into first and separating from Clatworthy in the final loop. Her efforts helped her to individual honors of Runner of the Year and Freshman of the Year. Khatevi also earned a spot on the first team All-Conference.
Her outstanding day fueled the Islanders' second place finish, complemented by Alicia Finnis' time of 21:29.33 and Embla Hreimsdottir's 21:36.29 time. HCU finished third with 110 points while New Orleans took fourth with 113 points and UIW clinched fifth with 131 points.
The first team consists of Elizabeth, Clatworthy, Mercy Kipchumba of SFA, Valentine Jemutai of SFA, Arlette Concepcion of HCU, Inch and Finnis.
The second team consists of Padfield, Hreimsdottir, Samantha Gonzalez of UTRGV, Eline Mast of HCU, Vera Maisaje of UIW, Powell and Hobday.
TEAM STANDINGS – FULL RESULTS
| PIace |
School |
Points |
| 1 |
Lamar |
43 |
| 2 |
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi |
59 |
| 3 |
HCU |
110 |
| 4 |
New Orleans |
113 |
| 5 |
UIW |
131 |
| 6 |
UTRGV |
148 |
| 7 |
SFA |
164 |
| 8 |
McNeese |
178 |
| 9 |
Nicholls |
237 |
| 10 |
Texas A&M-Commerce |
259 |