Lone Star Conference Academic Runners of the Year
Julie Lafare of West Texas A&M and
Arlo Gonzales of St. Edward's lead the 2025 LSC Cross Country All-Academic Team announced by the conference on Thursday (Nov. 6).
A senior from Uzes, France,
Lafare is majoring in sports and exercise science carrying a 4.0 cumulative grade-point average. She has been named to the LSC Commissioner's Honor Roll in each of her semesters at West Texas A&M. During the 2025 season, Lafare finished fourth at the 2025 LSC Women's Cross Country Championships (21:30.9) claiming her second career all-conference finish as the Lady Buffs took the team title for a third year. The 2024 LSC Runner of the Year and All-American, Lafare led WT to a runner-up finish at last season's NCAA Division II Championship.
Gonzales is majoring in kinesiology with a 3.94 cumulative grade-point average and has earned placement on the LSC Commissioner's Honor Roll honors in both semesters at St. Edward's. The sophomore placed ninth (25:19.1) at the 2025 LSC Men's Cross Country Championships to earn All-Conference honors. He recorded a season-best 25:11.7 at the Texas A&M Invitational 8k in September and posted his career-best 10k time at the 2024 NCAA Division II South Central Regional (34:09.2).
Lafare is joined on the LSC All-Academic women’s team by two-time honoree and 2023 Academic Runner of the Year graduate student
Ivanova Yanes, Texas A&M-Kingsville; graduate student
Megan Williamson, DBU; junior
Kailynn Denney, UT Tyler; and senior
Eliette Chaput, West Texas A&M.
In addition to Gonzales, the LSC All-Academic men's team includes senior
Isaac Pendley, DBU; junior
Brian Norton, Eastern New Mexico; senior
Tegan Arega, Oklahoma Christian; and junior
Samuel Ketcham, Western New Mexico.
The Cross Country All-Academic Team, selected by vote of the LSC sports information directors, recognizes student-athlete accomplishments in the classroom and on the cross country course. To be eligible for the All-Academic Team ballot, individuals must carry a minimum a 3.30 cumulative grade-point average and have reached sophomore athletic eligibility.
Both Lafare and Gonzales will be candidates for the 2025-26 LSC Fred Jacoby Academic Athlete of the Year awards announced in June.
2025 LSC Cross Country All-Academic Teams
Honorees listed alphabetically by team
Women
Academic Athlete of the Year: Julie Lafare, West Texas A&M University
| Megan Williamson |
DBU |
Gr. |
Psychology |
Clyde, Texas |
| Ivanova Yanes |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
Gr. |
Kinesiology |
Kingsville, Texas |
| Kailynn Denney |
UT Tyler |
Jr. |
Finance |
Killeen, Texas |
| Eliette Chaput |
West Texas A&M |
Sr. |
Marketing |
Pouillon, France |
| Julie Lafare |
West Texas A&M |
Sr. |
Sports & Exercise Science |
Uzes, France |
Men
Academic Athlete of the Year: Arlo Gonzales, St. Edward’s University
| Isaac Pendley |
DBU |
Sr. |
Accounting |
Huntsville, Texas |
| Brian Norton |
Eastern New Mexico |
Jr. |
Business Administration |
Trophy Club, Texas |
| Tegen Arega |
Oklahoma Christian |
Sr. |
Nursing |
Los Angeles, Calif. |
| Arlo Gonzales |
St. Edward's |
So. |
Kinesiology |
San Antonio, Texas |
| Samuel Ketcham |
Western New Mexico |
Jr. |
Accounting |
Goodyear, Ariz. |