Lady Texans CC Wins National Championship

The South Plains College Lady Texans cross country team ran their way to an NJCAA National Championship Saturday in El Paso.

The Lady Texans finished first overall with 128 points to win their first-ever national team title in cross country. Johnson County CC was second with 151 points, while Central Arizona College was third with 153.

Freshman Lillian Badaru placed second with a time of 17:04 in the 5K race to pace the Lady Texans. Badaru was only one second behind the first place runner. SPC's Happy Mary Bacia was third (18:00), Gus Newmeyer was sixth (18:52), Mary Patuel was 12th (19:34), Fernanda Esquivel was 122nd (22:28) and Krystal Charles was 145th (23:09).

SPC head coach Chris Beene was named National Women's Coach of the Year.

The SPC men's cross country team placed fourth with 139 points. Rend Lake finished first with 64 points, Central Arizona was second with 74 and Butler County was third with 107.

SPC's John Kosgei finished in fourth place in the 8K race with a time of 23:03), Jay Wilson was 13th (24:39), Josphat Melly was 27th (25:18), T.K. Revis was 47th (25:46), Michael Hernandez was 58th (26:00), Lance Medina was 135th (27:41) and Chase Wade was 186th (29:33).