FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The LSU Cross Country teams return to action Friday morning in the Southeastern Conference Cross Country Championships held at Agri Park. The women will begin the meet, running the 6k race, beginning at 10 a.m. CT. The men will follow shortly after at 11 a.m. CT in the 8k race.
The Tigers will look to improve from last season’s SEC Championships as the men finished as a team in 12th-place while the women placed 14th. Returning for his sophomore season, Dajour Braxton led the men’s team last season by finishing in 30th place individually. The Lady Tigers will have experience on their side as sophomores Hannah Bourque, Erika Lewis and Hollie Parker will return. Joining them will be returning upperclassmen Rebecca Little, Jenna Walker and Ashley Welborn.
The Tigers and Lady Tigers will be looking to take the crown from host-school Arkansas, whose men’s and women’s teams were crowned SEC Champions. Aside from Arkansas men’s and women’s teams, there are three other SEC cross country teams ranked in the top-30 in the most recent NCAA Division I Cross Country National Coaches Poll.
On the men’s side, Ole Miss is ranked 11th nationally. Representing the SEC women’s teams are Ole Miss and Mississippi State whom are ranked 16th and 29th in the nation respectively.
The LSU men’s and women’s teams are coming off 14th and 16th-place team finishes respectively in the Crimson Classic two weeks ago. The men’s team was paced by Braxton who placed 51st, and Welborn led the Lady Tiger’s efforts, finishing in 76th-place individually.
Joining Braxton for the men’s team Friday morning are seniors Blair Henderson and Christian Johnson. Juniors DC Lipani, Bryan Stamey, Daniel Tanner and freshman Harrison Martingayle round out the men’s team.
The Lady Tigers joining the repeat-competitors are freshman Annie Jung, Ruby Stauber and Amillie Whitehurst. Junior Ellen Barkemeyer is the tenth and final member competing for the Lady Tigers.
After the Tigers and Lady Tigers finish the SEC Championships, both teams will return back to Fayetteville on November 11 to compete in the NCAA South Central Regionals also held at Agri Park.
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.