News Post

The St. Joseph’s Academy cross country team finished as runner-up in the LHSAA Division I state championship on November 17 at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches. 

With freshman Hannah Schneider finishing fifth in a time of 18:21.3, the Redstickers scored 89 points to finish behind state champion Mount Carmel (55) and ahead of Ruston (136), Dominican (176) and C.E. Byrd (227). There were 24 teams in the Division I field. 

“The race was a great experience,” Schneider said. “Although we did not finish first like we planned, I still think we ran very well. The weather was pretty good, and I think it was a good day to race. While none of us ran our fastest times, we still gave it our all, and I’m so proud of us for finishing in second place. If anything, it gives us the fuel and motivation to push ourselves and win next year.”

Coach Mark LaHaye said that while the second-place finish fell short of the team’s ultimate goal, he congratulated his team on the effort. “I know this is not what we had trained for, but it is still quite an accomplishment,” he said. “Only two teams leave this meet with a trophy, and we were one of the two. The 2026 season starts today.”

SJA’s remaining top seven runners, order of finish and times were Audrey Manda, 13th place, 19:03.8; Cate Barbier, 18th place, 19:26.4; Olivia Crews, 26th place, 19:48.0; Hope Lemoine, 27th place, 19:51.8; Tiana Khuri, 30th place, 20:04.4; and Kaitlyn Garidel, 34th place, 20:20.2.

Lemoine, a junior, said that while the championship race did not go as planned, the regular season was a success. “We pushed all season, and Coach Mark trained us very well, which is something we all very much appreciate,” she said. “This race will give us even more motivation for next season to push even harder at practice and in races and to come back even stronger than we have been in the past.”