Colonels compete at Mississippi College Invitational, prepare for conference championships

The Nicholls State University cross country program raced in the Mississippi College
Invitational at Choctaw Trails in Clinton, Miss.

The women placed ninth, defeating Alcorn State, Southern, Jackson State and New Orleans,
while the men placed seventh, defeating Mississippi Valley State.

Head coach Stefanie Slekis said she thought the program performed well in Mississippi. Slekis
mentioned she was impressed with how the men’s team handled an 8K run on a difficult course.

“It [the course] was really hilly, and we don’t really have any hills to train on,” Slekis said.

Senior runner Hannah Naquin finished first for the women’s team in the 5K run, placing 15th
overall with a time of 19:39.4. Freshman runner Eleana Callejas finished second, placing 38th
overall with a time of 20:58.3.

The three remaining runners for the women’s team were redshirt junior Taylor Douglas (46th
with 21:42.2), redshirt junior Courtney Troxclair (52nd with 22:00.7) and senior Lucija Barac
(66th with 23:40.1).

On the men’s team, sophomore runner Trey Lowery finished first on his team for the first time
this season. Lowery placed 32nd overall and completed the 8K run in precisely 30 minutes.

Freshman runner John Paul Spera trailed Lowery by about 24 seconds, finishing 33rd overall.

Sophomore runner Teril Cooper finished 38th overall with a time of 32:59.7, freshman runner
Tristan Breaux finished 39th overall with a time of 33:07.7 and sophomore runner Daryl Cooper
finished 45th overall with a time of 38:43.4.

With several first-year runners, Slekis said she thinks the program will continue to be
competitive while learning more about the sport at the same time.

Slekis said, “We’re in a great position where this team is so much fitter than they were six weeks
ago.”

The Colonels have less than two weeks of preparation before they compete again in the
Southland Conference Championships Oct. 27 in Abilene, Texas.