NATCHITOCHES – Texas A&M-Corpus Christi's Elizabeth Khatevi shined on the conference's brightest stage once again, defending her individual title, but she and the Islanders could not edge out SFA who emerged on top of the table Friday morning at the Southland Women's Cross Country Championship.
The Lumberjacks add to their conference-best total of now nine team titles and their first since 2016. Khatevi becomes the first repeat individual winner since SFA's Lauren Smith did so in 2011 and 2012. Her 19:44.70 time paced the field by a 30-second margin.
Valentine Jemutai led the charge in SFA's title push, finishing second overall with a 20:17.90 time. Sharon Boyani Omwoyo clocked a 20:55.60 time in fifth place and Mercy Kipchumba took sixth at 20:57.20. Trude Lamb and Garance Dubray contributed solid performances to the team's championship, totaling times of 21:40.40 and 21:41.90.
A&M-Corpus Christi's Phylis Kabet earned Freshman of the Year honors after taking third place overall and N Vanee Anchike of UTRGV was named Newcomer of the Year after a ninth-place finish. Robert Hansen of SFA doubled-up on Coach of the Year honors after leading both the men's and women's teams to conference championships.
SFA's narrow victory came out to a total of a three-point difference, marking 36 points while A&M-Corpus Christi had 39. UTRGV finished third with 65 while UIW had 136 in fourth and McNeese rounded out the top five with 157.
The first team consists of Khatevi, Jemutai, Kibet, A&M-Corpus Christi's Alicia Hy-Finnis, Kipchumba, Boyani Omwoyo and Lamar's Ashton Rainey.
The second team consists of UTRGV's Vanee Anchike, Faith Cruz, Kailey Salazar along with Lamb, Dubray, McNeese's Jeny Barcenas and A&M-Corpus Christi's Faith Ramos.
TEAM STANDINGS – FULL RESULTS
| PIace |
School |
Points |
| 1 |
SFA |
36 |
| 2 |
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi |
39 |
| 3 |
UTRGV |
65 |
| 4 |
UIW |
136 |
| 5 |
McNeese |
157 |
| 6 |
New Orleans |
185 |
| 7 |
HCU |
187 |
| 8 |
Lamar |
207 |
| 9 |
Nicholls |
225 |
| 10 |
East Texas A&M |
254 |