University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Friday, September 11
Mobile, Ala.
5:50 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
at
Azalea City Classic
Louisiana Set To Open Cross Country Season In Mobile
9/10/2020 6:51:00 PM | Cross Country
5K event is first of three meets for Ragin' Cajuns heading into SBC Championships
LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Cross Country team officially gets its 2020 season underway on Friday when it travels to Mobile, Ala., to compete at the annual Azalea City Classic at the Old Brookley Golf Course.
The women's 5K race will start at 5:50 p.m., with the men's 5K race starting at 6:20.
Joining Louisiana and host South Alabama in the eight-team meet will be Mobile, Marion Military Institute, Pensacola State (women's team), Troy, UAB (women's team) and Wallace State Community College.
The race is the first of three for Louisiana leading into the Sun Belt Conference Championships, scheduled for the same course on Oct. 31. And it couldn't come at a better time after the Ragin' Cajuns lost their 2020 outdoor track and field season due to COVID-19.
"It actually worked out well for our cross kids, because we came off a real bitter year last year," head coach Lon Badeaux said. "A lot of things went wrong – from a lot of injuries on the women's side to a lot of things just didn't go right on the men's side. So we have a lot to prove."
"When we lost (outdoor) track and got towards the summer (where the distance kids would normally be taking off), we sat them down and said let's make this a positive. Let's redeem ourselves and really put a solid summer in. And they did. All of the kids came back in excellent shape this year, which is probably the best we've ever seen them come back. So, we're real excited."
Louisiana returns its top runners on each side – Emoni Coleman (women's team) and Key Alfred (men's team) – from last season with a total of 12 runners who competed last season back.
On the men's side, returning runners Samuel Avants, Conner Meche and Rashid Reese all gained significant experience on the course for Louisiana with Coleman and Ally McCulley pacing a women's team that was besieged by injuries for much of the season.
Newcomer Damian O'Boyle, a grad transfer from McNeese, is scheduled to make his debut for the Ragin' Cajuns in the men's 5K event along with freshmen Cameron Angelle, Caedmon Kyles, Braden Scalisi and Justin Unger.
"On the men's side, we picked up a grad transfer from McNeese who's going to be a very good runner. We're really solid in the top two spots," Badeaux said. "The next two are some seasoned guys who came in as walk-ons, but have gotten experience and know the system and how to pace the distance. For the guys, success is going to come from the group of freshmen and how they are going to adjust college and the longer distances."
Lauren Cantrelle, Kelly Goff, Meredith Hebert, Alivia Johnson and Rosalie Michot return to join Coleman and McCulley on the roster. Slated to make their debut during the 2020 season will be the freshmen trio of Pierra Charles, Tarryn Hill and Haley Salsbury.
"On the women's side, we're pretty much past the injuries, though we're going to sit some out for this race as a precaution," Badeaux said. "We have a rather big group than we normally have and I think they can make a significant jump up the rankings."
Louisiana will also compete in meets at ULM (Oct. 2) and Little Rock (Oct. 17) prior to the 8K SBC Championships.
"It steps up perfect for the guys, but it's going to depend on the freshmen as they make the transition to five miles," Badeaux said. "The first meet (Mobile) is going to be very familiar to them as it's a 5K (three miles), which is mainly what they ran in high school. The ULM meet is going to be four miles and the Little Rock meet will be five miles (8K). We're going to build them up as the season moves along and we'll see who is going to adjust well."
Follow the Ragin' Cajuns on Twitter (@RaginCajunsTRK), Facebook (Ragin' Cajuns TRK) or Instagram (@RaginCajuns_TRK) to stay up-to-date on all that is happening with Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Track and Field/Cross Country.
The women's 5K race will start at 5:50 p.m., with the men's 5K race starting at 6:20.
Joining Louisiana and host South Alabama in the eight-team meet will be Mobile, Marion Military Institute, Pensacola State (women's team), Troy, UAB (women's team) and Wallace State Community College.
The race is the first of three for Louisiana leading into the Sun Belt Conference Championships, scheduled for the same course on Oct. 31. And it couldn't come at a better time after the Ragin' Cajuns lost their 2020 outdoor track and field season due to COVID-19.
"It actually worked out well for our cross kids, because we came off a real bitter year last year," head coach Lon Badeaux said. "A lot of things went wrong – from a lot of injuries on the women's side to a lot of things just didn't go right on the men's side. So we have a lot to prove."
"When we lost (outdoor) track and got towards the summer (where the distance kids would normally be taking off), we sat them down and said let's make this a positive. Let's redeem ourselves and really put a solid summer in. And they did. All of the kids came back in excellent shape this year, which is probably the best we've ever seen them come back. So, we're real excited."
Louisiana returns its top runners on each side – Emoni Coleman (women's team) and Key Alfred (men's team) – from last season with a total of 12 runners who competed last season back.
On the men's side, returning runners Samuel Avants, Conner Meche and Rashid Reese all gained significant experience on the course for Louisiana with Coleman and Ally McCulley pacing a women's team that was besieged by injuries for much of the season.
Newcomer Damian O'Boyle, a grad transfer from McNeese, is scheduled to make his debut for the Ragin' Cajuns in the men's 5K event along with freshmen Cameron Angelle, Caedmon Kyles, Braden Scalisi and Justin Unger.
"On the men's side, we picked up a grad transfer from McNeese who's going to be a very good runner. We're really solid in the top two spots," Badeaux said. "The next two are some seasoned guys who came in as walk-ons, but have gotten experience and know the system and how to pace the distance. For the guys, success is going to come from the group of freshmen and how they are going to adjust college and the longer distances."
Lauren Cantrelle, Kelly Goff, Meredith Hebert, Alivia Johnson and Rosalie Michot return to join Coleman and McCulley on the roster. Slated to make their debut during the 2020 season will be the freshmen trio of Pierra Charles, Tarryn Hill and Haley Salsbury.
"On the women's side, we're pretty much past the injuries, though we're going to sit some out for this race as a precaution," Badeaux said. "We have a rather big group than we normally have and I think they can make a significant jump up the rankings."
Louisiana will also compete in meets at ULM (Oct. 2) and Little Rock (Oct. 17) prior to the 8K SBC Championships.
"It steps up perfect for the guys, but it's going to depend on the freshmen as they make the transition to five miles," Badeaux said. "The first meet (Mobile) is going to be very familiar to them as it's a 5K (three miles), which is mainly what they ran in high school. The ULM meet is going to be four miles and the Little Rock meet will be five miles (8K). We're going to build them up as the season moves along and we'll see who is going to adjust well."
Follow the Ragin' Cajuns on Twitter (@RaginCajunsTRK), Facebook (Ragin' Cajuns TRK) or Instagram (@RaginCajuns_TRK) to stay up-to-date on all that is happening with Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Track and Field/Cross Country.
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