Capri Howard
Staff Writer
After slightly falling short in the 2018 SWAC Championships, the Tigers held their heads high knowing they worked hard and there was more to come. This season, the Tiger’s are back and more than prepared to fight for a title.
The cross-country team came out on top at The Mook Invitational in Ruston, La. hosted by Louisiana Tech University. The meet consisted of six teams; Northwestern State, Louisiana Tech, UL Monroe, Grambling, and Mississippi Valley
The women’s team finished in 1st place with two top finishers, while the men’s team took third overall with one top finisher.
After such a strong showing at the Mississippi College Invitational the previous weekend, the Lady Tigers were determined to win this competition– and they did exactly that. Not only did they take first out of seven teams, they also had two runners place in the top seven.
“I think the key to us taking first place was making sure we started off strong and making sure we stayed close together and ran to our best abilities. Winning our second meet reassured that all the hard work that my team and I have been putting in is paying off,” said Taylor Hayes, a junior computer engineering major from Grand Prairie, TX.
She continued, “I am confident that we are going to continue to make people open their eyes and pay attention to the Jackson State cross country team because we are coming for that ring.”
The two top finishers for the girls’ side were Mercy Chebet with a time of 15:41.2, and Taylor Hayes with 15:55.4. On the boys’ side is Jallah Gailman, who rounded out the top seven with a time of 21:17.7. These three runners were also top finishers in the previous Mississippi College meet.
Mercy Chebet, a sophomore computer science major from Kenya, who earned a spot on the second team All-SWAC honors last season affirmed that the team is only getting better.
“I feel that it was an improvement, I believe that upcoming meets will be better as we prepare for the conference meet. I believe in myself and my team,” said Chebet.
Although the men’s team top-runner and two-time SWAC individual champion, Vincent Langat, was out for an internship, the team stepped up and ran some of their personal best in his absence.
Alan Johnson, a junior mass communication major from Atlanta, Ga. explained his goals for this upcoming season.
“I’m looking forward to a progressive season going into indoor track season. I use cross country to help increase my endurance as I juggle multiple events throughout track season. I also look forward to winning a cross country conference title. For the upcoming meet, we will be focusing a lot more on speed training and overall intensity of workouts as we move closer to the championships.”
The Tigers will compete again at 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 at the Millsaps College Invitational in Clinton, Miss.
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