News Post

The St. Joseph’s Academy cross country team won the second meet of the season, capturing the 41st annual Episcopal Round Table Run on September 7 at Highland Road Park. In a field of 25 complete teams and 253 finishers, SJA scored a near-perfect 16 points in the three-mile varsity race. Rounding out the top five were St. Michael (124), Mt. Carmel (126), Newman (171) and St., Scholastica (186). 

All 10 SJA runners finished in the top 10, and the Redstickers captured the first four places. Senior Isabelle Brown, the top finisher at last Saturday’s Bayou Boogie Invitational, finished first in a time of 18:07.15. 

Sophomore Maddie Kate Gardiner finished second in 18:28.41. Other finishers were senior Virginia Dirks, third place, 18:33.62 (personal record); junior Sophie Martin, fourth place, 18:59.44; junior Lydia Poche, sixth place, 19:24.34; senior Mary Claire Saia, eighth place 19:26.69 (personal record); junior Anna Camille Eagleton, 12th place, 19:50.15; sophomore Ava Lemoine, 15th place,20:02.41; freshman Emma Claire Hendry, 16th place, 20:02 (personal record); and junior Kate Ritchie, 17th place, 20:20.

“What a day,” head coach Mark LaHaye said. “We took 10 of the top 17 places in the varsity race. Our girls showed everyone what a ‘pack attack’ can do. Our top four led the race from mile one through the finish line. The only question on everyone’s mind was whether we could sneak in our #5 runner for fifth place and a perfect score. But, one point from perfection ain’t bad. Our girls ran flat-out awesome.”

Brown said she was pleased with the team’s performance. “We definitely are starting off this season strong,” she said. “Scoring an almost-perfect 16 at such a large meet is a great accomplishment, and I’m proud of the teamwork it took to achieve that. I’m confident that we are on the right track to have another successful year and excited to keep improving as the season progresses.” 

Gardiner expressed pride in the team’s overall effort as well as improvement in working together as a pack. “When we run in a pack, it helps us individually and as a group because you hold yourself accountable, and you can always rely on your other teammates to carry you along,” she said. “Even though some of us weren’t feeling 100 percent, we pushed each other and tried to hold on for as long as possible. I think we did a fantastic job, and everyone had great races.”

LeMoine said the meet was a strong showing for every runner. “I felt very comfortable this race, and I had a lot of fun running it,” she said. “The weather was great, too. It was not too hot this time. I had an amazing race and ran a season best by 40 seconds.”

Saia said the race demonstrated what the team has been working towards. “The course was freshly cut and dry, and the weather was cooler than last week,” she said. “Starting so early in the season with so many red shirts crossing the line together not only reflects the depth of our team, but also foreshadows all we can accomplish this season. I honestly surprised myself with my race, and I hope everyone keeps surprising themselves with their progress.”

Next up for the Redstickers is the McNeese Cowboy 5K Stampede on September 28 in Lake Charles. The varsity race starts at 8:20 a.m. 
 

Mindy Brodhead Averitt
Communications Director

Photos by Nan Murtagh