News Post

The St. Joseph’s Academy cross country team finished first in the 14th annual Border Dash Cross Country Invitational hosted by Parkway High School. The event, the second meet of the 2026 season, was held September 12 at the South Bossier Recreational Complex. 

The varsity team placed five runners in the top 10 to score 23 points. Teurlings Catholic was second with 52 points, Ruston was third with 91, Loyola Prep finished fourth with 142 and Lafayette rounded out the top five with 149. Fourteen teams posted scores.

Coach Mark LaHaye said the team enjoyed the rare opportunity to travel for an out-of-town meet during the regular season. Most years, the Episcopal Round Table Run is held during week two, creating scheduling conflicts for SJA. With this year’s Round Table Run moving to week three, the Redstickers were able to travel to Bossier City. 

“It was a meaningful experience for our team and our parents,” LaHaye said. “From leaving school early to travel, to viewing the racecourse that afternoon, to sharing a team dinner and simply spending the night together as a group, the weekend gave everyone a chance to enjoy being together outside of the normal routine. That experience carried over into race day. The girls competed well, with several running new personal records and season-best times, and we were pleased to see others step up where the team needed them. Watching their effort, confidence and teamwork come together made the race itself a highlight of the weekend.

Sophomore Hannah Schneider finished first in the three-mile race in 18:36.00. Teammate Cate Barbier finished second in 18:43.80 (season best time). They were followed by Noella Fields, sixth place, 19:28.40 (personal record time); Kaitlyn Garidel, seventh place, 19:40.50; and Anna Amedee, 10th place, 20:00.80. Other runners, their places of finish and times were Ava Singleton, 11th place, 20:05.80 (personal record time); Eleanor Blake, 13th place, 20:23.00 (personal record time); Camille Sims, 14th place, 20:27.60 (season best time); Charlotte Beck, 19th place, 20:54.30; Ava Picou, 21st place, 20:59.40 (season best time); Sophia Otzenberger, 29th place, 21:31.30; Camille Vaughan, 32nd place, 21:34.90; Aubrey Hudson, 33rd place, 21:38.30 (season best time); and Audree Comeaux, 34th place, 21:41.40 (season best time).

In the three-mile freshman race, SJA runners finished second, third and fourth: Mary Emery Valluzzo, second place, 20:17.50; Charley Blanchard, third place; 22:12.80; and Lola Coghlan, fourth place, 23:11.60.

Next up for the Redstickers is the Round Table Run on September 19 at Highland Road Park. The varsity race gets under way at 8:45 a.m. followed by the JV race at 9 a.m.