Cross country races in conference championships

The Nicholls State University cross country program traveled to Abilene, Texas and competed in
the Southland Conference Championships Friday.

The men’s team placed 13th in the 8K run with an average time of 32 minutes and 47 seconds,
while the women’s team placed 12th in the 6K run with an average time of 26 minutes and nine
seconds.

Head coach Stefanie Slekis said her players competed well in Texas with the cold weather on
Friday.

“It was 40 degrees and 20-30 miles per hour winds when we raced,” Slekis said. “[It was] some
pretty different conditions from 85 degrees and 99 percent humidity.”

Slekis said she saw progress being made by both teams; the women’s team average was six
minutes and 52 seconds faster than last season for the 6K run, and the men’s team average was
four minutes and five seconds faster than last season for 8K run.

Slekis said the competitions give her players the chance to improve individually and as a
program.

“I think that it’s a great opportunity for our athletes to go and get better themselves. That’s been
the goal all season is to be able to train through the whole season, and really get a chance at
competing at this championship time of the year, when they’re in their best shape.”

For the women’s team, freshman runner Eleana Callejas ran Nicholls State University’s fastest
6K time at the Southland Conference Championships since 2014. Callejas finished first for the
women’s team and 64th overall with a time of 24:16.5. Senior runner Hannah Naquin finished
67th overall with a time of 25:18.7.

The rest of the group consisted of redshirt junior Taylor Douglas (70th with 26:05.2), redshirt
junior Courtney Troxclair (75th with 26:52.5) and senior runner Lucija Barac (81st with
28:13.4).

For the men’s team, freshman runner John Paul Spera finished first for the men’s team and 78th
overall with an 8K time of 30:02. Sophomore runner Trey Lowery finished 81st overall with a
time of 31:02.9.

The remainder of the squad included freshman runner Tristan Breaux (82nd with 31:28.1),
sophomore runner Teril Cooper (85th with 32:57.3) and sophomore runner Daryl Cooper (86th
with 38:25.7).

The Colonels race again at the NCAA South Central Regional Nov. 10 in College Station, Texas.
The women will run a 6K starting at 9:15 a.m., and the men will run a 10K starting at 10:15 a.m.