Top-ranked Lady Tigers place first at Bethel Invite

The Cowley College women's cross country team finished exactly where they are ranked in the latest NJCAA Division II poll as the top-ranked Lady Tigers finished first at the Bethel Invite held Saturday in Newton, KS.

The Lady Tigers were led by sophomore Lubna Suied winning her third race in four tries as she finished 20 seconds better than runner-up Gloria Butts of Rogers State. Suied finished the 3.1-mile race with a personal best time of 18:27.10 despite running in extremely windy conditions. 

"For Lubna to get her third win already is pretty impressive," Cowley head coach Cameron Rieth said. "She ran phenomenal."

Cowley's Zinara Lesley (19:34.89) and Karissa Glover (19:48.74) also ran well and placed seventh and eighth, respectively, as the Lady Tigers easily out-paced NCAA Division II Newman University for the team title.

"Zinara and Karissa ran terrific," Rieth said. "We ran very well as a team and hope to keep it rolling."

Lady Tiger sophomore Megan Reynolds made her season debut after battling hip and health issues and placed 15^th with a time of 20:27.30.

"Megan is an incredible comeback story and had a very good opening meet," Rieth said.

Cowley's Paula Viciano-Cansino (20:45.24) achieved a personal best time and placed 16^th, while Karstyn Nolan (23:41.39) rounded out Lady Tiger runners at the meet.

The Lady Tiger cross country team will now prepare for the Conference/Region Championships Wednesday, October 28 in El Dorado, KS.

"Our goal is to win the conference and region titles," Rieth said. "It will be a battle. This past meet was a good building block for the team, but we will need everyone to step up."

Team standings:

WOMEN

(1) Cowley, 26; (2) Newman, 56; (3) York, 78; (4) Fort Scott, 113; (5) McPherson, 115; (6) Bethany, 123; (7) Ottawa, 142.