Stephen F. Austin
Southland Conference Championships
SLC Champions
11/3/2003 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
Nov. 3, 2003
HUNTSVILLE, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack men's and women's cross country teams dominated the Southland Conference Cross Country Championships for a second-straight season. The Lumberjacks defeated Sam Houston State, 34-74, to win their third consecutive title. The Ladyjacks defeated Texas-Arlington, 42-72, to win their second-straight title.
Four Lumberjacks earned All-Southland Conference honors led by 2003 SLC Male Athlete of the Year Mike Thompson who won the individual title with a time of 24:57.80. Nathan Flores was the second Lumberjack to cross the finish with a time of 25:31.50. Flores was third overall. Justin Meier finished third for SFA with his time of 25:43.30. Meier crossed the finish line fourth overall. Sophomore Julian Acuna was the fourth Lumberjack to earn all-conference honors with his time of 25:55.50. Acuna's time was good enough for ninth overall. Marc Farris closed out the scoring for SFA with his 17th-place finish (26:47.40).
"Obviously I'm very happy with both team's performance today," said first-year cross country coach Lou Snelling. "Basically we came out and did what we were supposed to do. Both our men and women ran tough today."
The Ladyjacks won their second-straight title in similar fashion to the 2002 season with Ana Rodriguez winning the SLC individual title (17:11.80). Rodriguez was also named 2003 SLC Female Athlete of the Year and has now won her last six conference races, including the indoor and outdoor track season. Rodriguez's toughest competition came from teammate Ashley Monteau who finished second overall with a time of 17:32.30. Jessica Partin was the third Ladyjack to receive All-Southland Conference honors with her seventh-place finish (18:22.20). Freshman Julie Kole was the fourth Ladyjack to cross the finish line. She finished 15th overall with a time of 18:42.80. Freshman Kimbre Lettkeman closed out the SFA scoring with her 17th-place finish (18:45.40).
"I was really happy with the race that Ana and Ashley ran. Ana came out and repeated her title. I thought Ashley ran a smart race competing in her first conference championship. I thought Mike really stepped up today for the men. He has been running well and really took it to the next level today. I was also happy with the race that Nathan ran. It was only his second race of the season and I thought he ran strong."
SFA will continue the 2003 season Saturday Nov. 15th, when they travel to Waco, Texas for the NCAA South Central Regional meet.
-SFA-
