All the other teams in the conference tried hard however, they just could not keep the Southwestern Athletic Conference Cross- Country Championship title from the champions, Southern University, Monday November 5 at Alcorn State.
The SU men claimed the SWAC Cross country championship title. The woman placed second to the ladies of Alabama State.
“We said we were going to win and we did that,” said Charles Moon. “We proved ourselves to be the hardest working men in the SWAC.”
SU men won the championship by running with outstanding strategy.
“We as team knew how to pace ourselves in the meet from our practices,” said Chibale Bandele.
Starting from the back Chibale Bandele placed third overall with a time of 29:49.22 leading the Jaguars to the top finish. Murray Guillory stepped up placing fifth overall with a time of 30:21.49. Clary Reed not lacking at all placed seventh overall with the time of 30.34.30. Charles Moon, the first one to shoot out for his team placed tenth with the time of 30:44.09. SU was the only school with four runners placing in the top ten.
“The most improved was Korey Crumpe and Clary Reed they were a total surprise to me,” said Coach Johnny Thomas.
With the time of 32:29.24, Korey Crumpe placed fifth.
The women moved from placing fifth place for the last three years to second place. “Kenya Warren, Leah Walker and Sahaja Pitre showed great leadership,” said Thomas.
Placing ninth overall Kenya Warren lead the team with a time of 22:33.89. Coming in right behind Warren placing tenth was freshman Rayla Hunt at 22:36.14. Also sticking close together were Erikka Thomas, Leah Walker, and Sahaja Pitre, with times of 23:30.17, 23:52.35 and 23.55.71 respectively.
“I am proud of everyone we did well our hearts were in the right place,” said Leah Walker.
“The show does not stop here this is just the beginning for us,” said Sahaja Pitre. She is more than right because Indoor Track and Field starts December 1, 2002 in a meet against McNeese State.
Again, the doors will be open to a road for, yet another SWAC Championship title because one is just not enough.
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Jags take SWAC men’s Cross Country title
November 9, 2001
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