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Lamar University's women's cross country team
The rain may have come down during the Southland Conference Championship meet, but none would have an effect on the Lamar University women's cross country team. Behind three Top-10 finishes, the Cardinals claimed their first conference championship since 2014 winning with 45 points, a four point margin over second place New Orleans (49). Nia Clatworthy led LU as she was crowned individual champion.
Held in San Antonio, Texas, the women started the 6K race at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 27. Unfazed by the weather, Clatworthy, a native of Porthcawl Wales, found herself in the top four at the halfway mark at 11:47. She then turned it up and increased her lead to three seconds, which was more than enough to give her the title, as she crossed the line at 21:12.9, good enough for a personal record as well.
"My plan was to go behind the leaders, see how they went and do what they do and do my own thing," said Clatworthy. "Then with a mile-and-a-half to go, I felt good. So I just took it and backed my fitness and went from there." Asked if the rain had an effect on her, Clatworthy responded, "I definitely think it helps me because I'm Welsh and I'm used to it. I think it could've affected a lot of people, but it was good for me I guess."
Andrew Sweeney, who was named SLC Coach of the Year, said, "Today's individual title for Nia was a year in the making. She's one of the most hardworking athletes I've ever coached, and is truly a student of the sport. She can seem quiet and timid to those who don't know her, but those who do can see how intense of a competitor she is. Ever since her 10th place finish at this meet last fall, she's had the ambition of rising to the top of the conference this year, and podium finishes in the 5k indoors and 10k outdoors only validated what we knew she was capable of. Even with an injury limiting her training in the weeks leading up to the meet, she never doubted herself for a moment, and today she went out and made it happen. I'm happy that she now gets the hardware to match what I get to see on a daily basis at practice."
Teammate Cara Inch was fifth in 21.56.8, followed by Annabel Hobday (8th, 22:13.1)
"Our women spent the entire season visualizing this happening and came into the race with an extremely detailed race plan that they executed flawlessly," said Sweeney. "I'm so proud of the way they trusted each other and stayed tough mentally when adverse conditions were thrown our way. We had injuries to key runners as well as illnesses, but they didn't come with excuses because they came in with a purpose. It's moments like these that make this job so special, and it's a privilege to get to be around these amazing ladies each day."
Clatworthy was tabbed as the Women's SLC Athlete of the Year while Inch was selected as the Women's SLC Newcomer of the Year.
The men would later compete at 9:30 am and would finish in seventh place with 176 points. Freddy Richardson (20th) led the Cardinals in 26.07.7.
LU will next compete in the NCAA South Central Regionals in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on Friday, Nov. 10, at 11:30 a.m.