Lone Star Conference Cross Country Championships
The LSC Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championships are set for Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020 in San Angelo, Texas hosted by Angelo State. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, fans and spectators will not be allowed to attend the championships in person. For more information, visit
LSC Cross Country Championships Central (Courtesy of ASU).
RUNNERS OF THE WEEK
MEN’S
Nicodemus Rotich, Texas A&M University-Commerce, FR, Kinesiology & Sports Studies, Eldoret, Kenya, Tambach Boys HS
Texas A&M-Commerce freshman Nicodemus Rotich recorded one of the quickest times in Lion cross country history, winning his second collegiate race with a time of 24:59.9 in the East Texas Shootout at Centennial Park on Friday evening. Rotich won the 8-kilometer race by just over 22 seconds over DBU's Noah Metzger to go two-for-two in collegiate cross country races.
WOMEN’S
Marissa Insinna, DBU, JR, Sociology & Commercial Art, McKinney, Texas, McKinney North HS
DBU junior Marissa Insinna won her second consecutive race to start the 2020 season, capturing first place at the East Texas Shootout with a personal record time of 17:49.5 in the 5-kilometer event. Insinna averaged 5:44.2 per mile to pace the field and helped lead the Lady Patriots to their second straight team win.
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
MEN’S
Nicodemus Rotich, Texas A&M University-Commerce, FR, Kinesiology & Sports Studies, Eldoret, Kenya, Tambach Boys HS
Texas A&M-Commerce freshman Nicodemus Rotich recorded one of the quickest times in Lion cross country history, winning his second collegiate race with a time of 24:59.9 in the East Texas Shootout at Centennial Park on Friday evening. Rotich won the 8-kilometer race by just over 22 seconds over DBU's Noah Metzger to go two-for-two in collegiate cross country races.
WOMEN’S
Megan Smith, DBU, FR, Psychology, Clyde, Texas, Clyde HS
DBU’s Megan Smith was the top finishing freshman at the East Texas Shootout, placing eighth overall with a season-best time of 19:00.0. Smith averaged 6:06.9 per mile and played a pivotal role and helping the Lady Patriots capture their second straight win to open the 2020 season.
WEEKLY AWARDS
Men’s
S-28 Nicodemus Rotich, Texas A&M-Commerce
O-5 Nicodemus Rotich, Texas A&M-Commerce
Women’s
S-28 Marissa Insinna, DBU
O-5 Marissa Insinna, DBU
Men’s Freshman
S-28 Nicodemus Rotich, Texas A&M-Commerce
O-5 Nicodemus Rotich, Texas A&M-Commerce
Women’s Freshman
S-28 No Nominees
O-5 Megan Smith, DBU
SELECTED NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
Landon Thornton, UT Tyler, claimed third place overall running 25:27.71 in the 8-kilometer race, leading UT Tyler to five of the top 10 spots and the team victory at the East Texas Shootout. The win was UT Tyler's first team win in a race with other Division II programs.
Eduardo Gutierrez, Cameron, notched his second straight top-5 finish at the East Texas Shootout, pacing the Aggies with a time of 25:39.36 in Cameron's second race of the season.
Colten Brown, Oklahoma Christian, posted a career-best time on one of the nation's most difficult cross country courses as OC competed against mostly NCAA Division I competition in the Oklahoma State Cowboy Jamboree on the OSU Cross Country Course. OC was the only Division II squad in the 13-team field, which included six squads from the Big 12 Conference. Brown covered the 8-kilometers in 25:49.7, his best time ever at that distance, and passed a runner from North Texas in the final stretch to place 42nd in the 120-man field. He helped the Eagles finish ahead of two Division I teams, Texas State and Oklahoma.
Angel Contreras, UT Tyler, Contreras was one of UT Tyler's five runners to finish inside the top 10 at the East Texas Shootout, finishing seventh overall in 25:43.91 over the 8-kilometer race to help lead UTT to the team victory. The win was the Patriots’ first team win in a race with other Division II programs.
Kenya Bailey, Oklahoma Christian, was the Lady Eagles’ top finisher in the Oklahoma State Cowboy Jamboree, run on the OSU Cross Country Course, considered one of the nation's toughest. OC was the only Division II squad in the 14-team field, which included six squads from the Big 12 Conference. She covered the 6-kilometers in 23:48.1, placing 65th in the 122-woman field, meaning she beat 53 Division I runners, including 23 from Big 12 programs.
Natasha Carcano, UT Tyler, finished 11th overall at the East Texas Shootout with a time of 19:25.1, her personal-best cross country 5-kilometer time, leading UT Tyler to a second-place team finish behind DBU.