The Lone Star Conference recognized 30 student-athletes and two head coaches as league officials announced the annual cross country all-conference honors.
The announcement comes following the LSC Cross Country Championships on October 26. West Texas A&M captured its third straight men’s title and Tarleton State won its first championship on the women's side.
All-conference honors are given to those runners who finish among the top 15 individually at the conference meet, while additional awards are presented for Coach, Newcomer and Freshman of the Year on both the men’s and women’s side.
WT’s Darren Flowers earned men’s coach of the year honors for the fourth consecutive year, while Tarleton’s Pat Ponder was named the women’s coach of the year.
Newcomer of the Year acclaim went to WT’s Blake Whalen and Midwestern State’s Leticia Shaban. Angelo State’s Devitt Smetana and MSU’s Sara Smith claimed Freshman of the Year honors.
The coaching honors were selected by a vote of all the LSC head coaches, while the newcomer and freshman awards went to the highest finishers at the league championships.
WT’s Geoffrey Kipchumba was the individual medalist to headline the men’s all-conference list. He was joined by Buff teammates Whalen, Jamie Taylor-Caldwell, Tyson Wieland, and Zach Daniel.
The runner-up Texans were represented by Tye Doty, Chase Rathke, Thorne Pettigrew, Dylan Willett, Brandon Lacy, and Luke Scribner. Texas A&M-Commerce finished third behind the efforts of Luis Romero, while ASU was fourth with Smetana. Cameron’s Steve Orwell and Eastern New Mexico’s Trevor Merhege earned All-LSC honors as well.
On the women’s side, TSU’s Aly Coughlin claimed the women’s individual title with teammate Katelin Huckabee also representing the top team.
ENMU finished second with Amber Saiz, Klaudia Szych, and Azalia Rodriguez leading the way, while A&M-C was third with top-15 performers Terra Truitt, Mary Hammonds, and Tori Lenz.
Smith, Shaban, and Brandi Hobson represented the fourth-place Mustangs. ASU’s Candida Chairez, Kelsey Warren, and Claudia Ramirez, along with Texas A&M-Kingsville’s Jade Guerrero rounded out the All-LSC list.
2015 LSC Cross Country All-Conference Awards
MEN’S ALL-CONFERENCE PERFORMERS
| Place |
Runner |
Team |
Year |
Hometown |
| 1 |
Geoffrey Kipchumba |
West Texas A&M |
So. |
Kapsabet, Kenya |
| 2 |
Blake Whalen |
West Texas A&M |
Jr. |
Dubuque, Iowa |
| 3 |
Tye Doty |
Tarleton State |
Sr. |
Bruceville, Texas |
| 4 |
Jamie Taylor-Caldwell |
West Texas A&M |
Sr. |
London, England |
| 5 |
Devitt Smetana |
Angelo State |
Fr. |
Veribest, Texas |
| 6 |
Chase Rathke |
Tarleton State |
Sr. |
Crawford, Texas |
| 7 |
Tyson Wieland |
West Texas A&M |
Jr. |
Perry, Iowa |
| 8 |
Zach Daniel |
West Texas A&M |
Sr. |
Crane, Texas |
| 9 |
Thorne Pettigrew |
Tarleton State |
Jr. |
Rockwall, Texas |
| 10 |
Trevor Merhege |
Eastern New Mexico |
Sr. |
Española, NM |
| 11 |
Dylan Willett |
Tarleton State |
Sr. |
San Antonio, Texas |
| 12 |
Luis Romero |
Texas A&M-Commerce |
Sr. |
El Paso, Texas |
| 13 |
Brandon Lacy |
Tarleton State |
Sr. |
Lytle, Texas |
| 14 |
Luke Scribner |
Tarleton State |
Sr. |
Farmersville, Texas |
| 15 |
Steve Orwell |
Cameron |
Sr. |
Nairobi, Kenya |
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
Men’s Team Champion: West Texas A&M
Men’s Newcomer of the Year: Blake Whalen, West Texas A&M
Men’s Freshman of the Year: Devitt Smetana, Angelo State
Men’s Coach of the Year: Darren Flowers, West Texas A&M
WOMEN’S ALL-CONFERENCE PERFORMERS
| Place |
Runner |
Team |
Year |
Hometown |
| 1 |
Aly Coughlin |
Tarleton State |
R-Sr. |
Rockwall, Texas |
| 2 |
Terra Truitt |
Texas A&M-Commerce |
Jr. |
Pampa, Texas |
| 3 |
Katelin Huckabee |
Tarleton State |
Jr. |
Belton, Texas |
| 4 |
Sara Smith |
Midwestern State |
Fr. |
Dalhart, Texas |
| 5 |
Candida Chairez |
Angelo State |
Sr. |
Del Rio, Texas |
| 6 |
Kelsey Warren |
Angelo State |
Fr. |
Hico, Texas |
| 7 |
Amber Saiz |
Eastern New Mexico |
Sr. |
Belen, NM |
| 8 |
Mary Hammonds |
Texas A&M-Commerce |
Sr. |
Arlington, Texas |
| 9 |
Tori Lenz |
Texas A&M-Commerce |
Sr. |
Ennis, Texas |
| 10 |
Leticia Shaban |
Midwestern State |
Jr. |
Phoenix, Ariz. |
| 11 |
Jade Guerrero |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
Fr. |
Corpus Christi, Texas |
| 12 |
Klaudia Szych |
Eastern New Mexico |
Sr. |
Szczecin, Poland |
| 13 |
Claudia Ramirez |
Angelo State |
Jr. |
Del Rio, Texas |
| 14 |
Brandi Hobson |
Midwestern State |
Jr. |
Salinas, Calif. |
| 15 |
Azalia Rodriguez |
Eastern New Mexico |
Sr. |
Dallas, Texas |
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
Women’s Team Champion: Tarleton State
Women’s Newcomer of the Year: Leticia Shaban, Midwestern State
Women’s Freshman of the Year: Sara Smith, Midwestern State
Women’s Coach of the Year: Pat Ponder, Tarleton State