Just over two weeks remain until the LSC Cross Country Championships and teams will use competitions on Friday and Saturday (Oct. 6-7) as a opportunity to fine-tune for the conference meet. The weekend opens with the Lubbock Christian teams at the NMJC Invitational II in Hobbs, N.M., on Friday. Seven men's and nine women's teams converge in Grand Prairie, Texas, for Saturday's DBU Old Glory Gallup. St. Edward's and UAFS are each headed to Saturday's UAH Charger Invitational in Huntsville. Ala., while Texas A&M-Kingsville competes at the OLLU West Side Classic in San Antonio, and Eastern New Mexico hosts the Greyhound Invitational.
The
LSC Cross Country Championships are scheduled Saturday, Oct. 21 in Portales, N.M., and hosted at Eastern New Mexico. The women's 6K race goes at 9:30 a.m. MDT followed by the men's 8K at 10:30 a.m. MDT.
Last Weekend: LSC teams and individuals made noise during big competitions in what was a lighter weekend in the LSC schedule (Sept. 29-30). Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival men's 8K races including Texas A&M-Kingsville in the Prairie Fire Pepper (18th) and St. Edward's in the McDonnell Memorial (21st). Dylan Sequeirn led SEU at 25:08.08. Both SEU (27th) and TAMUK (28th) women ran the Harter's Habanero 5K with Javelina Ivanova Yanes the top LSC finisher in 18:13.5 (48th). ... West Texas A&M teams took on loaded fields in the Live at Lou Gold races. The men's squad placed 4th in the 8K and were one of three Division II teams among the Top 5 while the Lady Buffs finished 10th, one of five Division II teams in the Top 10.
USTFCCCA
Division II Coaches Polls
Men
South Central Region/Sept. 26: #4 West Texas A&M, #10 Oklahoma Christian
(next poll Oct. 3)
Division II/Sept. 27: #7 West Texas A&M
(next poll Oct. 4)
Women
South Central Region: #7 DBU, #8 West Texas A&M, #10 Texas A&M-Kingsville
(next poll Oct. 3)
Division II: #21 DBU, #27 West Texas A&M
(next poll Oct. 4)
RUNNERS OF THE WEEK Competitions September 25 through September 30
MEN
William Amponsah, West Texas A&M, Jr., Sports & Exercise Science, Agona Swedru, Accra, Ghana
William Amponsah won the Gold 8K individual title at the Live in Lou Classic in Louisville, Ky., posting a 23:08.6 time to lead West Texas A&M to a fourth-place finish in the 39-team field. The junior was in a pack of eight runners during the first 4K before breaking away to finish 5.7 seconds ahead of runner-up Jason Bowers from Div. I Eastern Kentucky. Amponsah's time is the fastest 8K time in the Lone Star Conference this season.
WOMEN
Eleonora Curtabbi, West Texas A&M, Sr., Biology, Turin, Italy
In her first competition of the season, Eleonora Curtabbi stayed with the second fastest group in the Live at Lou Classic Gold 5K race and used a sprint finish to claim 10th place in 17:14.5. The senior's effort helped West Texas A&M to a 10th-place showing in the 36-team field.
FRESHMAN RUNNERS OF THE WEEK Competitions September 25 through September 30
WOMEN
Sarah Koomson, West Texas A&M, Fr., General Studies, Adom Banso, Ghana
Sarah Koomson posted this season's fasted Lone Star Conference 5K time running a 17:04.9 to take third-place at the Live in Lou Gold 5K. The freshman led the 325 runners through the first 4K and was one of two freshmen placing among the top three runners and was the second Division II finisher. Koomson's performance boosted WT to 10th in team finishers.
MEN
No award
Weekly Awards List
Men's Runner of the Week
Sept. 4 William Amponsah, West Texas A&M
Sept. 11 Joseph Langat, Texas A&M International
Sept. 18 William Amponsah, West Texas A&M
Sept. 25 Jess Dunsmore, Oklahoma Christian
Oct. 2 William Amponsah, West Texas A&M
Women's Runner of the Week
Sept. 4 KayCee Keller, DBU
Sept. 11 Jayden Dangerfield, Midwestern State
Sept. 18 Sarah Koomson, West Texas A&M
Sept. 25 Ella Pando, Midwestern State
Oct. 2 Eleonora Curtabbi, West Texas A&M
Men's Freshman Runner of the Week
Sept. 4 Noah Watt, West Texas A&M
Sept. 11 Emmanuel Langat, Texas A&M International
Sept. 18 David Soto, UT Tyler
Sept. 25 Emmanuel Langat, Texas A&M International
Oct. 2 No award
Women's Freshman Runner of the Week
Sept. 4 Sarah Koomson, West Texas A&M
Sept. 11 Jaycee Lyons, Midwestern State
Sept. 18 Lesli Salas, DBU
Sept. 25 Kailynn Denney, UT Tyler
Oct. 2 Sarah Koomson, West Texas A&M