University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics

2022 Cross Country Roster

Sam Avants
Samuel Avants
Photo by: Rich von Biberstein
Samuel Avants

Samuel Avants

  • Position:
    Distance
  • Class:
    Senior
  • Hometown:
    Thibodaux, La.
  • High School:
    E.D. White
2023-24
Cross Country: Set a personal-best in the 6K at the Lamar Early Bird Opener at 19:23.2 (Sept. 1) … Finished 46th at the Sun Belt Conference Championships with a time of 28:42.2 in the 8K … Set a PR in the 10K at 33:44.4 at the NCAA South Central Regional (Nov. 10).
Indoor: Helped Louisiana finish 3rd in the DMR at the Robert Platt Invitational with a time of 10:01.71, also set a PR in the 3K at 8:53.38 … Finished 14th in the 3K at the South Alabama with a time of 8:57.30 (Feb. 4).
Outdoor: Placed 21st in the 1500 (4:11.47) at the Keyth Talley Invitational ... Finished 27th in the 1500 (4:09.03) at the Crimson Tide Invitational.
 
2022-23
Cross Country: Set a personal-best in the 5K at the UNO XC Opener with a time of 15:51.0 (Sept. 2) … Followed that with a 7th-place finish and personal-best 22:23.0 in the 7K at the ULM Warhawk Invitational (Sept. 17) … Finished 28th at the Sun Belt Conference Championships, setting a PR in the 8K at 26:02.6 (Oct. 28) … Ran a 34:03.6 in the 10K at the NCAA South Central Regionals (Nov. 11).
Indoor: Finished 4th with a 9:03.35 in the 3K at the LSU Purple Tiger Invite (Jan. 13) … Set a PB at the Vanderbilt Invitational in the Mile (4:32.69) … Ran a PR 15:39.45 in the 5K at the Samford Bulldog Invite, finishing 4th (Feb. 10).
Outdoor: Had a strong showing at the Leon Johnson NSU Invitational placing 5th in the 5K at 16:59.78 and 9th with a PR 1:59.90 in the 800 (Apr. 15) … Set a personal-record in the 1500 at the LSU Alumni Gold Invitational at 4:03.83 (Apr. 22).

2021-22 (Sophomore)
CROSS COUNTRY: Opened the season with a time of 21:52.9 at the Rice Invitational 6.4k course (Sept. 10) … Completed the Sun Belt Championships’ 8k course in 27:35.3 (Oct. 29).
OUTDOOR: Took seventh in the 5k with a time of 16:10.78 at the season-opening Louisiana Classics (March 19) … Finished 13th in the 1500m (4:15.04) and 16th in the 3k (9:35.55) at the LSU Battle on the Bayou (April 2) … Raced to a 12th place performance in the 1500m (4:11.95) and a 15th place result in the 800m at the Strawberry Relays (April 16).

2020-21 (Sophomore)
INDOOR: Finished 13th in the mile with a time of 4:56.07 at the LSU Louisiana Invite (Jan. 29).
OUTDOOR: Submitted an eighth place performance in the 5k at the Louisiana Classics (March 20) … Placed sixth in the 1500m with a mark of 4:10.49 at the Battle on the Bayou (April 3) … Crossed the line in 14th in the 1500m (4:10.32) and posted a time of 2:06.95 in the 800m at the LSU Boots Garland Invitational (April 17) … Notched a 12th place result in the 800m (2:04.27) and a 13th place result in the 1500m (4:16.72) at the SLU Pre-Conference Tune Up (May 1) … Capped off the season by taking 16th in the 10k at the Sun Belt Championships  (May 15).

2019-20 (Freshman)
INDOOR: 
Competed mainly in the mile posting his top time (4:38.05) at the Samford Bulldog Invitational.
CROSS COUNTRY: Competed in five events on the season ... cross the line in 28:59.2 to post his top time on an 8K course at the Little Rock Invitational.  

High School
A five-time Class 4A All-State performer in cross country and track and field at E.D. White Catholic High School ... helped the Cardinals to a pair of state titles in cross country and two state runner-up finishes ... a two-time Class 4A runner-up at the 2018 Louisiana State High School meet (1,600-meters and 3,200-meters) ... placed second overall at the 2017 Class 4A state cross country championships ... holds EDW records in the 800-meters (indoor), 1,600-meters (indoor and outdoor) and 3,200-meters (indoor).

Personal
Born October 24, 2000 in Houma, La. ... the son of Rhonda and Brad Avants ... has one sister ... father was a sprinter at South Plains College ... hobbies include hiking, traveling, fishing, playing guitar and hanging out with friends ... career ambition is to become a physical therapist ... a kinesiology major.
 
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