Led by strong individual performances by Josh Hawkins and Dustin Joubert, the Sam Houston State men’s cross country team finished second in the 2005 Southland Conference Championship, marking their fourth runner-up finish in as many years.
The SLC championship was moved from Beaumont to Natchitoches, Louisiana’s Demon Hills Golf Course after Hurricane Rita. It was a fitting site for the race, held yesterday’s Halloween morning.
This year marked the championship’s 42nd anniversary to which all 11 conference members send men and women athletes.
Hawkins, a junior, and Joubert, a sophomore, both placed in the top 10 individual finishes for the 8,000 meter race. Clocking in at 26 minutes, Hawkins placed fifth.Joubert crossed the finish line 23 seconds later, earning him 10 place.
The individual winner for the race of 68 total runners was junior Cody Clark of Stephen F. Austin with a time of 25:34.The Lumberjacks placed five of the top 10 individuals in the race.
Their performance helped boost SFA to a fifth straight SLC championship.
As expected, Lamar dominated the women’s race with Cardinal runners finishing second, third, fourth, sixth and 11th. Stephen F. Austin was second in the 6,000 meter women’s race, followed by Texas-Arlington and then Sam Houston. Erika Wright was the top finisher for SHSU with a 22:55 time to place 10th.
The next race for the team will be on Nov. 12 at the NCAA South Regional Championships in Waco.
SHSU SID also contributed to this story