The Lion’s Roar / Jay Love
Katie Neil presses on as she looks to finish out her running career with Southeastern on a high note. The Marrero native set a personal record for a 5k this past weekend with a time of 21:50.99.

The Lions and Lady Lions Cross Country team traveled to Tuscaloosa, Alabama for the Crimson Classic, which involved four members of the women’s team and five members of the men’s. 

This meet marks the last match before the Southland Conference. 

This competition was a chance for the runners to  determine where they stood against other opponents before the conference championships. 

For the women’s 5k competition, the top finisher was New Orleans native Celia Zaeringer who finished 58th out of 292 runners with a time of 18:28.73.

The coach is confident with the results of the Crimson Classic, especially with the obstacles that the team is not used to.

“I feel pretty good about the Crimson Classic,” said volunteer assistant coach Brandon Chapoton. “The Crimson Classic had hills and our team stacked up pretty well against other competitors.” 

As the team prepares for the Southland Conference Championship, one of the racers prepares for her last meet for Southeastern.

“I am trying to get in the mindset for my last meet in school,” said junior Katie Neil. “I am doing everything I can to do the best I can such as getting enough rest and eating healthy.”

Freshman Clarissa Smith finished among the top 200 runners with a time of 20:18.40 placing 168th respectively and Haley Gregoire with a time of 20:18.40 placing 178th respectively. 

For the men’s cross country competitors, junior and native of Prairieville, Harry Wiggins placed the Lions’ top time of 26:25.40 in the 5K placing 79th. 

“He [Wiggins] will improve for the next meet,” said Chapoton. “He is just looking at it as a new meet. He is hungry, ready and has improved as the conference approaches.”

The men’s 8k had 24 teams and the Lions placed 21st.

Freshman Michael Perez finished 160th with a time of 28:25.40, and Isaiah Gilbert finished 167th with a time of 28:39.82.

The other top finishers for the Lions were Joseph Edwards with a time of 28:57.25 in 171th place and Stephen Cassingham in 176th place with a time of 29:12.14. 

The Lion’s Cross Country team will have a two week break in competing before they begin the Southland Conference Cross Country Championship. 

“The point of the two week break is the hay is in the barn,” said Chapoton. “The goal now is to make them feel good and recover from the heavy training, just to motivate them.”

The conference will kick off in Natchitoches on Nov. 3.

For more information about the Lion’s athletics, visit lionsports.net. 

 

The Lion’s Roar / Jay Love
The Lion’s cross country team has had an impressive record so far this season. The men’s team have secured two first place finishes, as well as a second place finish at the LSU Invitational earlier in the fall. The women’s side has also faired well by finishing in the top three teams in multiple races this season