SU Cross Country takes second place at SLU meet

The same stormy day, the Southern University football team matched up with
Jackson State University football team, the Southern University Cross-country team competed in the Southeastern Louisiana University Invitational held at Ponchatoula High School on Saturday, October 13. The meet consisted of six teams including SU. Those teams included Nicholls State, Jackson State, Southeastern Louisiana, Xavier University and Louisiana State University.
“The team is improving at each meet and practice,” said Head Coach Johnny Thomas.
SU men and women placed second in this meet, out running teams who had out run them in previous meets.
“The girls ran the best times of any Cross-country team that I have ever coached,” said Thomas.
In three-mile race, senior Kenya Warren led the
team with a time of eighteen minutes and 28 seconds, one of her best times ever. Erikka Thomas ran an 18:38, Leah Walker 19:50, Sahaja Pitre 19:53, and Rayla Hunt 19:29.
“Erikka is at a steady place, Rayla Hunt is coming a long well and Sahaja just keeps
surprising me,” said Thomas. “Bandele is leading the men, but Charles and Murray will have to give a better performances.”
Senior Chibale Bandele led the men with a time of twenty-three minute, thirty-five seconds in the four-mile. Cary Reed ran 24:13, Charles Moon
25:09, and Roger Whitlock 26:43.
Due to midterms the team had week off. But, given the team’s self-motivated and competitive nature, this time off should no effect their performance.
“The time off should not effect the team’s performance at the next meet,” stated Thomas.
The cross country team will run their final meet before the SWAC championship, Saturday, October 27 at the Mississippi Valley State Invitational to be held in Shreveport.