Sunday, September 21, 2014

XU Nuggets, Rush record best finishes at LSU Invitational

XU cross country at LSU Invitational (Photo Gallery)

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Xavier University of Louisiana posted its best-ever finishes -- third place for the women, fourth place for the men -- in the LSU Invitational cross country meet Saturday.

Led once again by seniors Catherine Fakler and Kwame Jackson, both the Gold Nuggets and Gold Rush finished ahead of two NCAA Division I teams. Xavier competes in the NAIA.

Fakler ran 5,000 meters in 19 minutes, 10.99 seconds to place eighth out of 48 women. Jackson ran the men's 5K in 16:15.94 and finished 11th out of 54 runners.

The Gold Nuggets scored 92 points and finished ahead of NCAA D-I's Nicholls State and New Orleans. LSU won the women's team title with 22 points, and Southeastern Louisiana was second with 77.

Xavier's women are 11-3 through four meets this season with five victories against NCAA Division I.

The Gold Rush qualified for team scoring for the first time this season. The XU men had 123 points and finished ahead of Jackson State and Nicholls State. LSU won the men's title with 18 points, followed by SLU with 72 and UNO with 98.

Fakler's time is the eighth fastest in Gold Nuggets history. Jackson, who set the XU men's 5K record on Sept. 6, posted the Gold Rush's fifth-fastest 5K of the past 12 seasons.

Also competing for the Gold Nuggets were Hali Yarmush (21st place, season-best 21:04.91), Carlee Calais (25th, career-best 21:42.37), Hannah Finnegan (27th, 21:51.93) and Reeka Belton (30th, season-best 22:34.42).

The other Gold Rush finishers were Brent Kitto (21st, 16:55.91), Christopher August (26th, 17:05.51), Emmanuel Detiege (43rd, 18:38.63) and Christopher Kennie (54th, 25:50.60).

Xavier will compete next Saturday in the McNeese Cowboy Stampede at Lake Charles, La.


Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

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