THIBODAUX, La – The Nicholls State University cross country teams will compete in the 2024 Southland Conference Championship at Lake Oaks Park in New Orleans. The women's 6K race will begin at 8:30 am and the men's 8k will start at 9:30 am. The action will be available to live stream via ESPN+.
Nicholls head coach
Stefanie Slekis spoke about the team's training leading up to the meet.
"Training has gone really well since the last meet," Slekis said. "We had a big session at the farm where our average pace showed a lot of potential for both the men & women to dramatically improve their personal bests again."
The Colonels began the season with a race at Lake Oaks Park and Slekis also spoke about the extra distance at the Championship meet and how it effects the team.
"I think the added distance helps our team since we have been preparing well all season to race the 6k & 8k championship distances, which we saw with the big personal bests at the Arturo Barrios Invitational, so I expect us to have a significantly better race than the Battle for New Orleans opener," Slekis said. " I am excited for this course because the 2k loop format fits how you see cross country run at the international level and gives us as coaches an opportunity to see our teams a lot and continue to coach our student-athletes to group up and work together which is huge for our men's & women's teams especially at the 2-8 spots for the men and the 1-3 and then 4-8 spots for our women's teams. "
Lastly, Slekis gave her goals and expectations for Friday.
"I think the exciting part about both of our teams is how we have top individuals who can mix it up with some really great #1-2s from the other 12 Universities in our conference and then the depth that each of our teams have this year," Slekis said. "The options we must fill our 4/5 spots and put the best team outcome forward is exciting. To have 5 men and 5 women who are all equally capable of working together and helping us have the best 4th and 5th runner scoring possible for our teams is exciting."
