LAKE CHARLES – With some of Southeastern Louisiana's top athletes not making the trip, the Lady Lions finished in 2^nd place and the Lion men came in 3^rd at the McNeese State Cowboy Stampede cross country meet. The women and men both ran 5K races.

 

On the women's side, host McNeese State captured the team title, followed by Southeastern and Louisiana College. The Cowgirls' Amy Guinn was the top individual finisher, with a time of 19:20.67. Naomi Jeruto led Southeastern with a fourth place finish at 19:51.33. Kim Gastinell joined her in the top ten, placing ninth at 20:48.73. Other Lady Lions of note included Bethany Burst (11^th place, 22:26.20), Courtney Schultheis (12^th, 22:50.75), Ernestine Carrodine (13^th, 23:07.70) and Esther Kemboi (15^th, 24:38.78).

 

McNeese State also won the men's title. The Cowboys finished ahead of Lamar, Southeastern, Southern-New Orleans and Louisiana College. Samuel Kosgei, a former Lamar athlete running unattached, led the field at 15:25.28. Southeastern's Nelphat Boit placed 10^th (16:59:59) to lead the Lions. Scott Richardson (15^th, 17:28.75), Kyle Golden (18^th, 17:56.14), Zachary Dufrene (18:12.44), Jason Ortego (21^st, 18:25.29), M.J. Ahmad (24^th, 18:50.45) and Cory Roberts (29^th, 21:08.54) rounded out the SLU contingent.

 

Team leaders Dorcus Kapkiai, Kalphys Kemboi and Henry Rop were among those out of the line-up. Southeastern head coach Sean Brady announced earlier this week that they would stay behind in Hammond to train. He instead focused on others at this event, saying it was more for the younger members of the team than the veterans.

 

Brady plans to have his full roster next Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Watson Ford Invitational in Clinton, Miss. The meet, hosted by Mississippi College, features a 6K event for women and 8K for men. It will be the final tune-up for Southeastern before the Southland Conference championships in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Oct. 31.