CLARKSVILLE, Ark. – The LETU men's cross-country team made a dominating statement, claiming the 2021 American Southwest Conference Cross-Country Championship, the first team title in program history, on the Clarksville High School 8,000-meter Course Saturday.

"It was a historic day for the LETU men's cross-country team," Director of Track and Field/Cross-Country Kathleen Raske said. "They were locked in and focused on the task at hand, especially racing a competitive field and difficult course."

Led by Lorien Nightingale, who secured his second consecutive gold medal, paced the Yellowjackets efforts to dethrone the three-time defending champions and preseason favorite UT Dallas. The team displayed their depth with seven runners placing in the top 18, including the five that scored for LETU earning All-American Southwest Conference honors.

"It's been an honor to make history with this group of guys and the best possible way to finish off my senior season," Nightingale said. "Taking home, the ASC team title is such a surreal moment. Winning a second conference title is something I've been thinking about all year and it's so rewarding to make it a reality."

The Yellowjackets posted the school's all-time lowest point total in the conference meet and dominating the field. They finished with 34 points, 11 points lower than the Comets, which tallied 45. McMurry (90), Hardin-Simmons (129) and Concordia Texas (130) rounded out the top five.

"We thank God for all he has done in and through each athlete this season," Raske said.

Nightingale covered the course in 25:45.7, just 3.4 seconds of the ASC Championship Record time of 25.54.3. The 2018 gold medalist from ETBU was 13.8 seconds behind Nightingale, taking home silver. LETU's Pablo Lomeli Lluis claimed bronze with a time of 26:07.9, just 1.9 seconds off his season best. He added American Southwest Conference Freshman of the Year hardware to his collection.

"Lorien {Nightingale} ran a very mature race," Head Cross-Country Coach Daniel Michalski said. "He knew the best strategy needed to keep his teammates in contention, while controlling the pace at the front.  Mack Broussard of ETBU gave him a good run in the latter half, but I was confident he'd pull away in the end."

Claiming his second individual title, the Njoro, Kenya native equaled the conference record becoming the sixth in league history. He's the fourth to capture back-to-back golds and the first since UT Tyler's Nick Huff did so in 2012 and 2013. He now owns two of the six sub-26-minute winning times in league annals.

Nightingale was one of five Yellowjackets to earn All-American Southwest Conference accolades, including three on the first team. Lomeli placed third, while Nick Carter was sixth, posting a 26:25.7, his fastest time as a collegiate.

Sophomore Seth Kaplan was one spot short of conference accolades, carding a time of 27:34.1 in 15th, three runners ahead of freshman Aidan Hynes' time of 27:58.4.

Rookies Samuel Waters (28:49.4) and Hudson McGuire (29:26.3) posted personal records, while Issac Flora ran a 30:31.6, projecting a glimpse into how bright the programs future is.

Raske and Michalski were named the 2021 American Southwest Conference Coaching Staff of the Year.

Up Next:
The Yellowjackets return to competition Nov. 13 at the NCAA Division III Regionals in Claremont, California.
 
Men's Results
Team Scores
1.         LETU - 34
2.         UT Dallas - 45
3.         McMurry - 90
4.         Hardin-Simmons - 129
5.         Concordia Texas - 130
6.         East Texas Baptist - 141
7.         Ozarks - 186
8.         Mary Hardin-Baylor - 250
9.         Sul Ross State - 252
 
2021 ASC Men's All-Conference Awards
Individual Medalist: Lorien Nightingale, LETU 2
Freshman of the Year: Pablo Lomeli Lluis, LETU
Newcomer of the Year: Nick Carter, LETU
Coaching Staff of the Year: LETU (Kathleen Raske – Director, Cross Country; Daniel Michalski – Head Coach)
Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year: Mack Broussard, East Texas Baptist 2
2 Two-time winner
 
First Team
Lorien Nightingale, Sr., LETU 4
Mack Broussard, Gr., East Texas Baptist 5
Pablo Lomeli Lluis, Fr., LETU
Trent Sakakini, Jr., UT Dallas 4
Griffin Davis, So., UT Dallas 3
Nick Carter, So., LETU
Eric Monroy, Jr., Hardin-Simmons 3
 
Second Team
Gabriel Sanchez, Fr., McMurry
Rick Platas, Jr., Concordia Texas 2
Devan Bailey, Fr., UT Dallas
Spencer Gambrell, So., LETU 3
Andres Uriegas, Sr., UT Dallas 4
Walker Reeves, Fr., LETU
Ethan Conville, Fr., UT Dallas
 
5 Five-time All-Conference
4 Four-time All-Conference
3 Three-time All-Conference
2 Two-time All-Conference
 
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