COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Lamar University women's cross country team made the most of its long-delayed 2017 debut with an impressive second-place finish at the Texas A&M Invitational on Saturday. The LU men took eighth place in their race.
 
In the women's competition, LU's Evelyn Chavez took sixth to lead all Southland Conference runners in the 140-athlete field. Chavez covered the 6-kiolmeter course in 21 minutes, 17.2 seconds. The Cardinals had three runners in the top 15, with Katy Whiteoak taking 14^th in 21:39.4, just ahead of teammate Evie Reavis, who was 15^th in 21:39.6.
 
LU's Georgia Tuckfield was 23d in 21:55.1, while Katie Buckley finished 36^th in 22:23.2.
 
The Cardinals finished with 88 points. Texas A&M took the team title with 50 points. Susannah Lynch of North Texas won the individual crown with a clocking of 20:23.1. The Cardinals were one of five Southland Conference teams in the 17-team field. McNeese was the next SLC team in the order of finish, placing fifth with 143 points.
 
Jamie Crowe led LU in the men's race, covering the 8-kilometer course in 24:21.8 to finish 11th.  LU senior Keith Fallon was 34^th in 24:53.6. Rounding out LU's top-five finishers were Matthew Arnold in 49^th (25:09.4), Freddie Gasbarri in 55^th (25:19.0) and Cormac Kelly, who was 56^th in 25:20.4.
 
Texas A&M topped the 18-team field with 62 points. The Cardinals totaled 192 points. LU was the second of five Southland Conference teams in the event, finishing only behind McNeese's 110 points.
 
Brian Barraza of Houston took home individual honors in a time of 23:51.5.
 
"Today was a tale of two races," LU coach Tony Houchin said. "The women ran great. It was the best team performance we've had since I've been at LU.
 
"The men, on the other hand, had a disappointing performance. We are better than we showed today. We can only work to improve from here on out."

The Cardinals return to action on Oct. 14, when they compete in the Bronco Invitational in Santa Clara, California. That's the last scheduled meet before the Southland Conference Championships that are set for Oct. 27 in Abilene, Texas.