Final Results (PDF)

NEW ORLEANS – The Nicholls State University cross country teams spent Friday afternoon racing in the University of New Orleans Invitational at Lake Oaks Park.

"I'm proud of how our men and women competed today," head coach Stefanie Slekis said. "The women ran well together and were able to beat Southland Conference opponent UNO.  

"Hannah Naquin had a great opener, running a faster pace per mile for 5000m than she ran for 3000m at the UNO opener here last year.

"Our men's team was led by two newcomers, freshman John Paul Spera and redshirt freshman Trey Lowery, who have been setting the pace in practice well. I'm excited to get the team back to training over the next two weeks before we race again at LSU. We have a hard working group that I'm excited to see improve each competition."

The women secured a fourth-place finish paced by Naquin as she crossed the finish line at 20:50.46 in 18th place. Redshirt junior Courtney Troxclair (23rd | 22:47.78), freshman Eleana Callejas (26th | 22:59.77), redshirt sophomore Taylor Douglas (28th | 23:53.22) and senior Lucija Barac (30th | 25:17.46) also contributed for the Colonels.

The Nicholls men's team, consisting of three sophomores and two freshmen, earned a sixth-place finish. Spera fronted the squad in his collegiate debut, finishing the 5K 32nd at 18:30.39. Lowery (38th | 19:03.60), freshman Tristan Breaux (41st | 20:41.32) and sophomores Teril Cooper (42nd | 20:43.01) and Daryl Cooper (47th | 23:58.26) rounded out the team.

LSU's Erika Lewis captured the women's individual crown, finishing in 18:24.53 as the Tigers took the top-two spots to earn the women's team title. ULL's Stanley Lemoh took home the individual champion on the men's side as he was one of three Ragin' Cajun runners in the top four to lift them to the men's team title.

Women's Team Results
1. LSU [24]
2. UL-Lafayette [36]
3. Southeastern Louisiana [77]
4. Nicholls [112]
5. Southern [136]
6. UNO [136]

Women's Individual Results
18. Hannah Naquin [20:50.46]
23. Courtney Troxclair [22:47.78]
26. Eleana Callejas [22:59.77]
28. Taylor Douglas [23:53.22]
30. Lucija Barac [25:17.46]

Men's Team Results
1. UL-Lafayette [35]
2. LSU [39]
3. Southeastern Louisiana [61]
4. UNO [104]
5. Southern [135]
6. Nicholls [165]

Men's Individual Results
32. John Paul Spera [18:30.39]
38. Trey Lowery [19:03.60]
41. Tristan Breaux [20:41.32]
42. Teril Cooper [20:43.01]
47. Daryl Cooper [23:58.26]

The Colonels return to action Sept. 16 in the LSU Invitational at Highland Road Park. The women commence the event at 7:30 a.m. with the men following at 8:10 a.m.

To stay up to date with the Nicholls cross country squads, follow the teams on twitter @Nicholls_XCTF.