Lady Golden Lions, Tigers crowned SWAC Cross Country Champions

CLINTON, Miss. – The women of Arkansas-Pine Bluff and the men of Grambling State were crowned champions of the 2007 SWAC Cross Country Championships on Monday at Choctaw Trails.
In the women’s race (5,000-meter run), the Lady Golden Lions took the top three places and claimed four of the top 10 spots in the race. Leading the group was Jackline Chumo (18:35.95) who was named Most Outstanding Performer and Freshman of the Year. Second place went to Theresa Padilla (18:59.56) while Ashley Bolden took third with a time of 19:18.29. Jemu Zarzar of Jackson State (19:24.94) and Precious Collins of Southern University (19:42.67) rounded out the top five.
In the team standings, UAPB finished with a score of 44 points. The Grambling State Lady Tigers were second with a mark of 61 points while the Jackson State Lady Tigers took third with a tally of 69 points.
In the men’s race (8-000-meter run), Robert Gunn of Alabama State was the event’s Most Outstanding Performer with a time of 25:58.12. Last year’s winner, Grambling State’s Kerone Fairweather, took second place (26:10.18), while Prairie View A&M’s Alonzo Thomas took third place (26:12.69). Freshman of the Year, Victor Bii of Mississippi Valley State finished fourth with a time of 26:26.78. Benton Hurry of Grambling State rounded out the top five (26:47.13).
On the men’s team competition, Grambling State finished with a point total of 42 points. Prairie View A&M took second place garnering 52 points while Alabama State tallied 62 points for third place.