Cross country wraps up season in Texas

The Nicholls State University cross country program completed its 2017 season Friday at the
regional tournament in College Station, Texas.

At the event, the women competed in a 6K run, and finished last in their division out of 24
teams. Senior runner Hannah Naquin led the Colonels, completing the run with a time of 23:26.8
and placing 147 th overall. Freshman runner Eleana Callejas finished with a time of 24:55.1 and
placed 159 th overall.

For the rest of the women’s team, redshirt junior runner Courtney Troxclair ran the course in a
time of 25:43.5 and placed 160 th overall, followed by redshirt junior runner Taylor Douglas (161 st
with 26:40.5) and senior runner Lucija Barac (162 nd with 32:52.8).

The men competed in a 10K run, but did not place in their division. Freshman runner Tristan
Breaux finished with a time of 39:07.2 and freshman runner John Paul Spera finished with a time
of 40:03.0. Sophomore runners Teril Cooper and Trey Lowery did not finish the event.

The NCAA South Central Regional marked the end of the Colonels’ season, and the starting
point of the offseason for head coach Stefanie Slekis and her team. After completing her first
year as head coach, Slekis thinks the team learned a lot and gained much experience, which will
be invaluable for next season. For several of the team members, 2017 was their first season as
well, and it should serve as a point on the path to success in 2018.