MONROE, La.- Warhawk cross country Head Coach
Karoly Varga's second
season was marked by a second place conference finish for senior
Daniel Mutai, the highest finish ever
for an ULM runner at the Sun Belt Championships. The 2012 campaign also
included two meet championships for the Warhawks.
Mutai, a Kapsabet, Kenya native, certainly left his mark on
the ULM cross country program in his final season on the Bayou. Although he
fell just short in his quest to qualify for the NCAA national meet a third
time, Mutai put together one of the greatest seasons ever by a Warhawk runner.
In addition to the second place showing at the Sun Belt Championships, he
claimed three individual meet championships (McNeese Relays, Warhawk
Invitational, Northwestern Invitational). His 25th place finish at the South
Central Regional also earned him all-regional honors for the third straight
year. Although his senior standout didn't qualify for the national meet, Varga
was proud of his efforts. "Mutai went for the win his senior year," Varga said
after the regional. "He paid for going out too hard in the wind, but no
regrets. He didn't want to just make the national meet, he wanted to win the
regional. He will come back and have a strong track season."
The men's team had two other harriers, sophomore Silah Chumba and junior Hillary Kirwa, who joined Mutai in
forming a stellar front pack. Chumba earned third team all-conference honors
following his 11th place finish at the Sun Belt Championships, capping a
fantastic second season in Monroe. "Silah ran phenomenal all season and, at
regionals, he ran a big PR," said Varga. "It was a huge jump from his finish at
regionals last year, which is an accomplishment because he is a 1,500 guy."
Chumba's season was also highlighted by third place finishes at the
Northwestern Invitational and the Warhawk Invitational.
The ULM team believed they were getting a huge talent in
Kirwa when he arrived as a transfer from Cameron University in Oklahoma at the
start of the year, and the newcomer didn't disappoint. The junior was on a roll
before falling victim to a recurring shin injury that shelved him for several
meets. Despite the injuries, Kirwa was still able to record a fine season. He
combined with Mutai to win the McNeese Relay to start the season, and then
recorded a pair of runner-up finishes at the Northwestern and Warhawk
Invitationals. Despite the nagging injury, Kirwa still toughed out a 32nd
place finish at the Sun Belt Championships. "He hadn't run for two weeks
because of injury, but he stepped up for his teammates and ran hard despite the
calf problems," said Varga following the race.
The Warhawk women were led the entire season by senior Sharon Sason and sophomore Anakaren Lopez. Sason was the top ULM
finisher at every meet, racking up three top-five finishes. The Holon, Israel
native finished second overall at both the Warhawk Invitational and
Northwestern Invitational. She recorded a 32nd place finish at the Sun Belt
Championships, and finished 91nd at the South Central Regional. The conference
meet finish was a 30 spot improvement from a year ago. "Sharon ran a huge PR,"
Varga said after the meet. "She ran like a senior. I'm proud of her- she is a 1,500
runner as well, so she ran excellent all season."
Lopez recorded a pair off third place finishes during the season, finishing right behind Sason at the Warhawk and Northwestern Invitational. Fellow sophomores Beth Koestler and Teona Glave were solid contributors as well, scoring for the Warhawks in every meet they raced in. As a team, the women placed second overall at the Warhawk Invitational and tied for third at the Northwestern Invitational.
The ULM runners will return to action soon, as the 2013 track season beings on January 18 at the McNeese Indoor Invite in Lake Charles, La.
