The Nicholls cross country team faced adverse conditions for the second time in the season as it ran at the Ragin’ Cajun meet Saturday morning in Lafayette. Despite facing a quarter of a mile of mud and wet grass during the third and fourth mile, the men’s team managed to pull out a second place finish behind Tulane.

The women’s team did not fare as well as it finished ninth out of the nine teams which competed.

Leading the pack for the Colonels was Mikael Larsson who finished tenth in 10th, with a time of 23:22, in the field of 63 runners. Farren Clark came in close behind Larson as he finished 13th with a time of 23:30.

“Farren (Clark) fell down in the first thousand meters and lost about 11 paces,” cross country coach Matt Pantusa said.

Nathan O’Connor and Leslie Martin were other Colonel runners who made strong runs to help the team in the standings.

Many of the Lady Colonel top runners did not compete over the weekend, instead taking the weekend to rest and recover. Freshman Shannon Cox led the Lady Colonels as she finished 27th.

“I was impressed by Shannon Cox. She definitely showed her athleticism with her finish,” Pantusa said.

Cox, who is a hurdler using cross country to build her endurance for track, finished the race with a time of 21:24.

“Our times were a bit slow,” Pantusa said. “I think it is a good sign for our men’s team that in three races, they have had three different athletes lead the team.”

The men’s and women’s cross country teams will run again on Oct. 6 when they travel to Baton Rouge to compete in the Tiger Classic.