Oct. 27, 2006

Complete Results

NACOGDOCHES - Junior Clerc Koenck won the women's race and Lamar University placed three runners in the top four en route to capturing its third straight Southland Conference Women's Cross Country Championship Friday morning, which was hosted by Stephen F. Austin at Pecan Acres Park.

Koenck, a native of Anacoco, La., covered the 6,000-meter course in a time of 21:35. She became the first Lamar runner to win the SLC women's race in 20 years. Becky Brooke won the 1986 SLC race in Lake Charles, La.

Koenck, who finished 33rd in the 2005 championship, erased the memory of last year's finish by capturing the title.

"Our main goal was for me, Amanda (King) and Renee (Graham) to go out together and have the next three go out together and run hard so we could win another championship," Koenck said. "It means a lot to me to win this championship. Last year I had a lot of setbacks, and that makes this even sweeter because I know what it's like to be down. It makes you forget the bottom and just makes it even better."

Head coach Trey Clark praised Koenck for the way she rebounded from a tough 20005 season.

"What a difference a year makes," he said. "At this time last year she had been through quite a few injuries and some that prevented her from performing to her capabilities last year. You have to give her credit, she picked herself up off the ground and worked very hard the course of the year. We started seeing the result in the indoor championships, she won an individual title in the outdoor meet and now she has an individual title in cross country. As far as I'm concerned, 2006 for Clerc Koenck has been awesome."

Renee Graham, a sophomore from Hawera, New Zealand, finished in second place in a time of 21:41. It was Graham's second straight second place finish at the SLC championships. Amanda King, a senior from Tauranga, New Zealand, placed fourth for the Lady Cardinals with a 22:03 clocking. She also posted a fourth place finish at last year's SLC championship and has posted three straight Top 10 finishes in the event.

Karesse Letherman, a freshman from Spring, placed 13th in a time of 23:25. Stacey Monteau, a sophomore from Anahuac, finished in 26th place with a 23:59 clocking. Mary Johnson, a freshman from Spring, placed 35th in a time of 24:18.

The Lady Cards become just the second team in SLC history to three-peat as champions in cross country. UT-San Antonio won three straight titles from 1991-1993.

"It's pretty special, in knowing that only one other school in league history has won three in a row," Clark said. "One of our goals was to match that feat. The women did a great job fulfilling their roles. They all had a part to play and they all accomplished what they needed to in order for us to win, which started this past summer."

On the strength of three harriers among the top four finishers, Lamar totaled 46 points and finished a comfortable 27 points better than Stephen F. Austin, who totaled 73 points. Texas-Arlington was third at 99, followed by Texas State (106), Texas-San Antonio (139), Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (143), Central Arkansas (166), Sam Houston State (170), Northwestern State (216), Southeastern Louisiana (233), McNeese State (335) and Nicholls State (336).

Koenck was also named SLC cross country athlete of the year, while cross country Coach Sita Waru was named coach of the year for both the women and the men.

Southland Conference Cross Country Championship - Nacogdoches, Texas Women's Race - 6,000-meter 1. Clerc Koenck, Lamar 21:35 2. Renee Graham, Lamar 21:41 3. Jodi Hulett, Texas-Arlington 21:52 4. Amanda King, Lamar 22:03 5. Ashley Monteau, SFA 22:36 6. Tenley Determan, Texas State 22:49 7. Lydia Kimeli, A&M-CC 23:07 8. Hope Jimenez, UTSA 23:07 9. Whitney Perkins, Texas State 23:09 10. Heather Bullin, Texas State 23:16 13. Karesse Letherman, Lamar 23:25 26. Stacey Monteau, Lamar 23:50 35. Mary Johnson, Lamar 24:18

Team Scoring 1. Lamar University 46 2. Stephen F. Austin 73 3. Texas-Arlington 99 4. Texas State 106 5. Texas-San Antonio 139 6. TAMU-Corpus Christi 143 7. Central Arkansas 166 8. Sam Houston State 170 9. Northwestern State 216 10. Southeastern Louisiana 233 11. McNeese State 335 12. Nicholls State 336