Upcoming: Four Lone Star Conference teams close the September portion of their men's and women's 2023 schedules competing in one of three meets between Thursday and Saturday. Eastern New Mexico heads to the Highlands XC Jam on Thursday (Las Vegas, N.M.). Texas A&M Kingsville and St. Edward's race at Friday's Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival (Fayetteville, Ark.). The LSC weekend closes in Louisville, Ky., as West Texas A&M competes at the Live in Lou Cross Country Classic.
Conference teams are are within a month of the
LSC Cross Country Championships 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. Of note: In addition to the LSC Championships, it's also Homecoming weekend at ENMU with football and volleyball slated on campus.
Last Weekend: The LSC had teams post Top 10 finishes in each of the races at the OSU Cowboy Jamboree (Sept. 23), led by fifth-place showings by the Midwestern State women and the Oklahoma Christian men. UT Tyler came in at 9th among men's teams and Lubbock Christian 10th on the women's side. ... Western New Mexico teams competed at the Cal State San Marcos Cougar Challenge (Sept. 23) with Aaron Perez posting a Top 25 finish (25:21.4) in the men's 8k.
USTFCCCA
Division II Coaches Polls
- Men Sept. 20: West Texas A&M #8 Div. II; #3 SC Region; UT Tyler #10 SC Region (next poll Sept. 27)
- Women Sept. 20: DBU #22 Div. II, #7 SC Region; West Texas A&M #29 Div. II, #8 SC Region; Texas A&M Kingsville #10 SC Region (next poll Sept. 27)
RUNNERS OF THE WEEK Competitions September 18 through September 24
MEN
Jess Dunsmore, Oklahoma Christian, GS, Engineering, Mount Martha, Australia (Peninsula Grammer School)
Graduate student Jess Dunsmore ran an 8k in 25:55.4, taking 31st out of 200 competitors in a loaded field at the OSU Cowboy Jamboree. Dunsmore's performance led Oklahoma Christian to a fifth place finish out of 23 teams, best among LSC teams.
WOMEN
Ella Pando, Midwestern State, So., Biology, Weatherford, Texas (Weatherford HS)
Ella Pando paced Midwestern State to a fifth place showing in the OSU Cowboy Jamboree, completing the 6K course in 23:48.00 (50th). The time was the fifth fastest by a Division II runner and tops among the six LSC programs at the competition.
FRESHMAN RUNNERS OF THE WEEK Competitions September 18 through September 24
MEN
Emmanuel Langat, Texas A&M International, Fr., Undecided, Kericho, Kenya (Londiani Boy's HS)
Emmanuel Langat placed 38th at the OSU Cowboy Jamboree with an 8k time of 26:08.1, second-best among LSC runners, and led Texas A&M International to 11th-place in the competitive 23-team field.
WOMEN
Kailynn Denney, UT Tyler, Fr., Criminal Justice, Harker Heights, Texas (Killeen Harker Heights HS)
Kailynn Denney led LSC freshman runners at the OSU Cowboy Jamboree, posting a 24:06.0 over the 6K course to place 61st. Her 33 points helped the Patriots to 11th in the stacked field for the Patriots as she led the team for the third consecutive week.
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
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
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
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