Friday, October 31
Natchitoches, LA
9:00 A.M.
Stephen F. Austin
at
SLC Championship
‘Jacks in Hot Pursuit of Hardware on Halloween Morning in Natchitoches
10/30/2025 2:53:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
SFA men, women confident entering SLC Championships on Friday morning
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – A four-meet regular season schedule has prepared the Stephen F. Austin men's and women's cross country teams for the postseason which begins with the Friday morning firing of the starting gun at the Southland Conference Championships in western Louisiana. The Lumberjacks make the short trip east through the Sabine National Forest and across the Toledo Bend Reservoir to Halloween's proving ground: Natchitoches. The women's 6K starts at 8:32 a.m. with the men off and running in the morning's 8K an hour later. Both races can be seen on ESPN+ and live coverage links, including live results, are available at www.SFAjacks.com.
"It's been a banner year for our program. We're really excited about where we're at," noted SFA Director of Cross Country Rob Hansen.
When asked about his team's efforts this season, specifically at the Chile Pepper Festival and the Arturo Barrios Invitational events where both of his squads faced top competition, Hansen acknowledged the positive effect those performances have had on his team. "I think a big part of that is it just gives them some confidence and it kind of underscores like, yeah, we believe we're fit, but then when you see it in the competition itself and when you start beating people that you've never beat before, you know, you start to walk around kind of confident. You believe in yourself…"
The 'Jacks carry a ten-men squad to the title meet which includes Nathan Kapel, Riley Elliott, Japhet Kemel, Paul Kiprotich, Ryan Binskin, Andrew Mullen, Zach McPhee, Wyatt Hoover, Sam Golla and Lathan Lewter. On the women's side, Mercy Kipchumba, Sharon Omwoyo, Valentine Jemutai, Trude Lamb, Garance Dubray, Graycee Wilson, Landry Perkin, Keara Zver and Lizi McGuire make up the nine runners in the 6K race.
SFA won both team titles at the SLC Preview Meet, which showcased just four SLC teams (SFA, McNeese, Lamar and host Northwestern State), on the same course in mid-September with Jemutai and Kapel claiming the respective individual titles. Friday's action offers a further run as the women ran a 4K, while the men competed in a 6K. Houston Christian, New Orleans, Nicholls, Southeastern, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, UIW and UTRGV join the fold after not competing in the preview action earlier this season.
SFA AT THE SLC CHAMPIONSHIPS (ALL-TIME)
SFA MEN
Championships: 5 (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005)
Individual Champions: 5 (Nathan Flores, '02; Michael Thompson, '03; Cody Clark, '05; Charles Mathenge, '16; Elkana Kipruto, '24)
Runner-Up: 10 (1998, 1999, 2006, 2008, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2020, 2024)
Coach of the Year: 5 (Alex Gibby, '01, '02; Lou Snelling, '03, '04, '05)
Athlete of the Year: 5 (Nathan Flores, '02; Michael Thompson, '03; Cody Clark, '05; Charles Mathenge, '16; Elkana Kipruto, '24)
Newcomer of the Year: 1 (Charles Mathenge, 2014)
Freshman of the Year: 5 (Mitch Ownbey, '08; Anthony Gallardo, '13; Brandt Preston, '16; Titus Kiplagat, '18; Elkana Kipruto, '24)
SFA WOMEN
*Championships: 8 (1987, 1988, 1990, 2002, 2003, 2010, 2012, 2016)
*Individual Champions: 7 (Renee Rowell, '90; Ana Rodriguez, '02, '03; Ashley Monteau, '04, '05; Lauren Smith, '11, '12)
Runner-Up: 10 (1989, 1998, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2019)
Coach of the Year: 8 (Peggy Vigil, '90; Annie Bennett, '98; Alex Gibby, '02; Lou Snelling, '03, '09, '10; Cody Clark, '12, '16)
Athlete of the Year: 7 (Renee Rowell, '90; Ana Rodriguez, '02, '03; Ashley Monteau, '04, '05; Lauren Smith, '11, '12)
Newcomer of the Year: 2 (Lauren Smith, '10; Danielle Burchett, '12)
Freshman of the Year: 3 (Stephanie Ganter, '08; Taryn Surratt, '16; Meredith Clayton, '19)
*SLC-best
2025 FINISHES (TOP FINISHER)
SFA MEN
Lumberjack Invitational (1st of 3, 15 pts); Lathan Lewter (1st of 37), 15:07 (3K)
Demon Invitational/SLC Preview (1st of 5, 15 pts); Nathan Kapel (1st of 40), 18:04.44 (6K)
*Chile Pepper Festival (4th of 30, 118 pts); Riley Elliott (13th of 285), 24:14.7 (8K)
Arturo Barrios Invitational (3rd of 32, 101 pts); Nathan Kapel (6th of 323), 23:02.7 (8K)
SFA WOMEN
Lumberjack Invitational (1st of 3, 17 pts); Valentine Jemutai (1st of 31), 11:19.7 (2 mile)
Demon Invite/SLC Preview (1st of 5, 22 pts); Valentine Jemutai (1st of 42), 13:52.91 (4K)
*Chile Pepper Festival (3rd of 29, 110 pts); Valentine Jemutai (6th of 269), 16:26.7 (5K)
Arturo Barrios Invitational (5th of 37, 198 pts); Valentine Jemutai (9th of 311), 19:52.3 (6K)
*highest team finish at meet in program history
'JACKS IN THE REGIONAL RANKINGS
SFA MEN
8/25: 7th
9/15: 6th
9/29: 6th
10/6: 6th
10/20: 4th (program-high ranking)
SFA WOMEN
8/25: 10th
9/15: 10th
9/29: 10th
10/6: 7th
10/20: 7th
'JACKS 2025 AWARD WINNERS
9/2: Lathan Lewter – SLC Male Runner of the Week
9/16: Nathan Kapel – SLC Male Runner of the Week
10/21: Nathan Kapel – SLC Male Runner of the Week
10/21: Valentine Jemutai – SLC Honorable Mention Female Runner of the Week
RECORD-BREAKING 'JACKS
10/4: Valentine Jemutai sets new SFA female 5K program record (16:26.7) at Chile Pepper
FOLLOW THE LUMBERJACKS
For all the latest information on SFA XC, visit SFAjacks.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Lumberjacks on X, Instagram and Facebook.
"It's been a banner year for our program. We're really excited about where we're at," noted SFA Director of Cross Country Rob Hansen.
When asked about his team's efforts this season, specifically at the Chile Pepper Festival and the Arturo Barrios Invitational events where both of his squads faced top competition, Hansen acknowledged the positive effect those performances have had on his team. "I think a big part of that is it just gives them some confidence and it kind of underscores like, yeah, we believe we're fit, but then when you see it in the competition itself and when you start beating people that you've never beat before, you know, you start to walk around kind of confident. You believe in yourself…"
The 'Jacks carry a ten-men squad to the title meet which includes Nathan Kapel, Riley Elliott, Japhet Kemel, Paul Kiprotich, Ryan Binskin, Andrew Mullen, Zach McPhee, Wyatt Hoover, Sam Golla and Lathan Lewter. On the women's side, Mercy Kipchumba, Sharon Omwoyo, Valentine Jemutai, Trude Lamb, Garance Dubray, Graycee Wilson, Landry Perkin, Keara Zver and Lizi McGuire make up the nine runners in the 6K race.
SFA won both team titles at the SLC Preview Meet, which showcased just four SLC teams (SFA, McNeese, Lamar and host Northwestern State), on the same course in mid-September with Jemutai and Kapel claiming the respective individual titles. Friday's action offers a further run as the women ran a 4K, while the men competed in a 6K. Houston Christian, New Orleans, Nicholls, Southeastern, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, UIW and UTRGV join the fold after not competing in the preview action earlier this season.
SFA AT THE SLC CHAMPIONSHIPS (ALL-TIME)
SFA MEN
Championships: 5 (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005)
Individual Champions: 5 (Nathan Flores, '02; Michael Thompson, '03; Cody Clark, '05; Charles Mathenge, '16; Elkana Kipruto, '24)
Runner-Up: 10 (1998, 1999, 2006, 2008, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2020, 2024)
Coach of the Year: 5 (Alex Gibby, '01, '02; Lou Snelling, '03, '04, '05)
Athlete of the Year: 5 (Nathan Flores, '02; Michael Thompson, '03; Cody Clark, '05; Charles Mathenge, '16; Elkana Kipruto, '24)
Newcomer of the Year: 1 (Charles Mathenge, 2014)
Freshman of the Year: 5 (Mitch Ownbey, '08; Anthony Gallardo, '13; Brandt Preston, '16; Titus Kiplagat, '18; Elkana Kipruto, '24)
SFA WOMEN
*Championships: 8 (1987, 1988, 1990, 2002, 2003, 2010, 2012, 2016)
*Individual Champions: 7 (Renee Rowell, '90; Ana Rodriguez, '02, '03; Ashley Monteau, '04, '05; Lauren Smith, '11, '12)
Runner-Up: 10 (1989, 1998, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2019)
Coach of the Year: 8 (Peggy Vigil, '90; Annie Bennett, '98; Alex Gibby, '02; Lou Snelling, '03, '09, '10; Cody Clark, '12, '16)
Athlete of the Year: 7 (Renee Rowell, '90; Ana Rodriguez, '02, '03; Ashley Monteau, '04, '05; Lauren Smith, '11, '12)
Newcomer of the Year: 2 (Lauren Smith, '10; Danielle Burchett, '12)
Freshman of the Year: 3 (Stephanie Ganter, '08; Taryn Surratt, '16; Meredith Clayton, '19)
*SLC-best
2025 FINISHES (TOP FINISHER)
SFA MEN
Lumberjack Invitational (1st of 3, 15 pts); Lathan Lewter (1st of 37), 15:07 (3K)
Demon Invitational/SLC Preview (1st of 5, 15 pts); Nathan Kapel (1st of 40), 18:04.44 (6K)
*Chile Pepper Festival (4th of 30, 118 pts); Riley Elliott (13th of 285), 24:14.7 (8K)
Arturo Barrios Invitational (3rd of 32, 101 pts); Nathan Kapel (6th of 323), 23:02.7 (8K)
SFA WOMEN
Lumberjack Invitational (1st of 3, 17 pts); Valentine Jemutai (1st of 31), 11:19.7 (2 mile)
Demon Invite/SLC Preview (1st of 5, 22 pts); Valentine Jemutai (1st of 42), 13:52.91 (4K)
*Chile Pepper Festival (3rd of 29, 110 pts); Valentine Jemutai (6th of 269), 16:26.7 (5K)
Arturo Barrios Invitational (5th of 37, 198 pts); Valentine Jemutai (9th of 311), 19:52.3 (6K)
*highest team finish at meet in program history
'JACKS IN THE REGIONAL RANKINGS
SFA MEN
8/25: 7th
9/15: 6th
9/29: 6th
10/6: 6th
10/20: 4th (program-high ranking)
SFA WOMEN
8/25: 10th
9/15: 10th
9/29: 10th
10/6: 7th
10/20: 7th
'JACKS 2025 AWARD WINNERS
9/2: Lathan Lewter – SLC Male Runner of the Week
9/16: Nathan Kapel – SLC Male Runner of the Week
10/21: Nathan Kapel – SLC Male Runner of the Week
10/21: Valentine Jemutai – SLC Honorable Mention Female Runner of the Week
RECORD-BREAKING 'JACKS
10/4: Valentine Jemutai sets new SFA female 5K program record (16:26.7) at Chile Pepper
FOLLOW THE LUMBERJACKS
For all the latest information on SFA XC, visit SFAjacks.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Lumberjacks on X, Instagram and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
5.29.24 | Tradition Runs Deep x SLC Announcement
Wednesday, May 29
2.1.24 | Axe 'Em Insider Ep. 24 x Softball
Friday, February 02
1.29.24 | Axe 'Em Insider Ep. 23 x Golf
Monday, January 29
12.29.23 | Men's Basketball x Postgame Presser vs New Orleans
Friday, December 29
