Texas State claims first-ever Sun Belt women’s cross country championship

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Boone, N.C. – The Texas State Bobcats claimed its first Sun Belt women’s cross country title on Saturday at the State Farm Fields-Kennedy Trails in Boone, N.C. The Bobcats placed four of their scores in the Top 10 en route to 53 points and the team title.

Junior Devina Schneider led the Bobcats with a fourth-place finish in a time of 17:55.9 on the 5K course on the campus of Appalachian State University. Freshman McKynzie King claimed the Freshman of the Year award as she finished fifth in 17:57.4. Sophomore Kendra Long finished eighth in 18:00.3 and senior Nikki Sanchez finished 10th with a time of 18:01.6.

South Alabama junior Laura Labuschaigne finished first and claimed the Runner of the Year award behind a time of 17:35.1. Labuschaigne finished in the Top 10 for the third consecutive year and improved on her fourth-place finish at last year’s event.

Coastal Carolina sophomore Lisha Van Onselen won the Newcomer of the Year award after she finished second in a time of 17:38.5. The host institution, Appalachian State, finished second with 80 points.

Texas State sophomore Madilyn King rounded out its top five with a 26th-place finish in 18:36.2.

Texas State head coach Jody Stewart earned the Coach of the Year award after the Bobcats claimed their first Sun Belt women’s cross country award since joining the league in 2013. Prior to this season, the Bobcats had finished no higher than sixth at the women’s championship. The 27-point win for Texas State is the largest margin of victory for a Sun Belt women’s cross country team since 2010.

First Team All-Conference
Laura Labuschaigne (South Alabama)
Lisha Van Onselen (Coastal Carolina)
Tori Shelton (UTA)
Devina Schneider (Texas State)
McKynzie King (Texas State)

Second Team All-Conference
Shanieke Watson (Little Rock)
Lotte Meyberg (Georgia State)
Kendra Long (Texas State)
Courtney Musgrove (Louisiana)
Nikki Sanchez (Texas State)

Third Team All-Conference
Carolien Millenaar (South Alabma)
Nicole Van Der Merwe (South Alabama)
Emily Fedders (Appalachian State)
Pauline Meyer (Arkansas State)
Megan Scannell (Appalachian State)

Runner of the Year
Laura Labuschaigne (South Alabama)

Freshman of the Year
McKynzie King (Texas State)

Newcomer of the Year
Lisha Van Onselen (Coastal Carolina)

Coach of the Year
Jody Stewart (Texas State)