ENMU men third, women fourth in LSC cross country polls

Staff report

RICHARDSON, Texas — West Texas A&M was tabbed to successfully defend Lone Star Conference titles this season in men’s and women’s cross country.

The WT men posted 109 points and received 13 of 17 first-place votes in balloting by league coaches and sports information directors, along with media, after the Buffaloes won the title for the first time last season. Meantime, the Lady Buffs — seeking their third crown in a row — received 16 of 18 first place votes and tallied 120 points.

Eastern New Mexico University’s men were picked third in the seven-team circuit, receiving two first-place votes and tallying 82 points to finish four behind Texas A&M-Commerce. The ENMU women were chosen for fourth place with 70 points.

Former ENMU runner Danielle Jones-Kcholi, who served as the women’s interim coach in 2012 and was an assistant under Mike Barbee last year, will be the head coach of both programs this fall.

Tarleton State and Angelo State, picked for fourth and sixth, respectively, each earned one first-place vote for the men, while Midwestern State finished second in the women’s poll with 105 points and notched the remaining two first-place tallies.

The season begins in early September, while the postseason begins with the conference championship meet hosted by MSU on Nov. 8.

LSC POLLS

Men

School (first-place votes) Pts

1. West Texas A&M (13) 109

2. Texas A&M-Commerce 86

3. Eastern New Mexico (2) 82

4. Tarleton State (1) 76

5. Cameron 56

6. Angelo State (1) 48

7. Texas A&M-Kingsville 19

Women

School (first-place votes) Pts

1. West Texas A&M (16) 120

2. Midwestern State (2) 105

3. Tarleton State 86

4. Eastern New Mexico 70

5. Angelo State 56

6. Texas A&M-Commerce 45

7. Texas A&M-Kingsville 22