COLLEGE STATION, Texas — After a top-10 and top-15 performance at the Crimson Classic two weeks ago, the LSU cross country teams return to the Watts Cross Country Course in College Station, Texas, to compete Friday in the 2015 Southeastern Conference Championships.
The men will commence the action, racing the 8k course at 10 a.m. CDT proceeding with the women’s 6k race at 11 a.m. at Watts Cross Country Course.
The LSU cross country teams finished 13th and 14th at the SEC Championships last season hosted by the Arkansas Razorbacks. Senior Morgan Schuetz led the Lady Tigers finishing 52nd in the women’s 6k race, and sophomore DC Lipani placed 92nd in the men’s 8k race.
The Tigers and Lady Tigers look to improve from last year’s team finishes with the help of Schuetz and Lipani’s past experience.
The field will be composed of the 14 SEC teams, including USTFCCCA nationally-ranked No. 8 Arkansas’ men squad. On the women’s side, Arkansas is ranked fourth, Mississippi State 13th and Vanderbilt 26th.
The men placed 10th overall two weeks ago at the Crimson Classic. Freshman Dajour Braxton led the Tigers, finishing 12th and was the first freshman to cross the finish line at the meet.
Junior Christian Johnson, who placed 39th at the Crimson Classic, will compete with Braxton at the SEC Championships. Lipani and freshman Hayden Kingfisher also placed in the Top 100 at the Crimson Classic and are set to compete tomorrow.
The women finished 15th as Schuetz cross the finish line as the first Lady Tiger, placing 27th individually.
Competing in the SEC championship meet with Schuetz are freshman Erika Lewis, sophomore Rebecca Little, junior Jenna Walker, freshman Hollie Parker, freshman Hannah Bourque and junior Elizabeth Dunning, who all finished in the Top 100 at the Crimson Classic in their last competition.
After the LSU cross country teams compete in the SEC Championship, the Tigers and Lady Tigers will travel back to College Station to compete in the NCAA South Central Regionals. The regionals will take place Friday, Nov. 13, at Watts Cross Country Course.
Last season, the Tigers finished the season at the NCAA regionals held at Fayetteville, Arkansas, placing 12th in the women’s meet and 18th in the men’s meet.
Schuetz looks to improve from last year’s performance, as she placed 46th, while Lipani and sophomore Bryan Stamey return as the two leading freshmen for the Tigers last season finishing in the top-150.
For the latest information on LSU’s men’s and women’s cross country teams, fans can follow the Tigers and Lady Tigers on twitter @LSUTrackField and on Facebook by liking LSU Track and Field.