Oct. 14, 2006

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack cross country team turned in a No. 20 finish Saturday at the Chile Pepper Festival, turning in a team total of 542. The Ladyjacks, led by senior Ashley Monteau, finished ahead of three Southland Conference programs at the meet, which typically attracts some of the nation's best cross country programs.

Monteau finished 36th, crossing the line with a time of 21:23.7. Classmate LaKoa McKeever was the next Ladyjack to finish. McKeever turned in a time of 22:41.6 to take 114th. Junior Kirsten Wieseman took 130th with a time of 22:50.5. Junior Katrina Nicholas posted a 151st-place showing with her time of 23:03.1, and junior Amber Bagwell rounded out the SFA scoring runners, finishing 189th with a time of 23:30.8.

"It's good to see Kirsten have a race that good," SFA cross country coach Lou Snelling said. "She really stepped up from her last performance and got into our Top 5. That's a great race by her."

Freshmen Mandy Willis and Chelsea Bradford and senior Kimbri Lettkeman also competed for the Ladyjacks. Willis finished 195th with a time of 23:36.6. Lettkeman was 200th at 23:38.6. Bradford clocked in at 23:49.8 to finish 217th.

The Ladyjacks will be back in action on Friday, Oct. 27, for the Southland Conference Championships. The conference meet will be hosted by SFA at Pecan Acres Park.

-- SFA --