The Nicholls Cross Country team started its season off with a first place finish in the men’s and women’s division at the Southern University Jaguar Invitational in Baton Rougeon Saturday. It was the first time in school history that both the men and the women finished first place in their respective meets. “This is just amazing” Matt Pantusa, head coach of the cross country team said. “They all ran well, although it was a little muddy.”

The Coloonels placed in the top three for both the women and the men.

For the women, Cassie Jones finished in first place, while Christina Sergi and Kim Prestenback followed behind her in second and third place. Jones was voted the Southland Conference runner of the week.

Jones, a freshman from Montpellier, Ind., made her colgeiate debut in Baton Rouge on Saturday. She finished with a time of 13:14.42.

“Cassie ran really well for her first meet,” said Pantusa. “The conditions made it hard, and I know that she is happy with her time.”

On the men’s side, Farren Clark finished first place, as Mikael Larson and Kevin Zwerzdaryx followed behind in second and third place. Altogether the men score a total of 17 points, while the women scored 17 points.

“The men ran very well, although their times were slow because of the conditions,” said Pantusa.

The Colonels next meet will be at Stephen F. Austin for a pre-conference meet in Texas.

“Hopefully we will finish in the top half,” Pantusa said. “We are going to get an idea of what the course is like.”

This year, Pantusa will see the biggest cross country team during his tenure at Nicholls, with seven signees on the women’s side alone.

The Colonels started their practice on August 30, and since then they have been running mileage, through area neighborhoods, four times a week.

“There is a lot more running that we have to do for training,” said Pantusa. “Training is going well.”

He said that the Colonels are doing more running in practice this season because the meets are going to get longer.

Although the team has to go through rigorous training, the runners get one day off every 10 days so that their joints can rest.

“We have been in the swimming pool a lot so the player’s joints can heal,” Pantusa said.

According to Pantusa, the frehmen women have been showing a lot of leadership as far as running ability, while the upperclassmen are leading the way for the men.