FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas – The McNeese Cowgirl cross country team matched its regional ranking at Friday's 2023 NCAA South Central Regional Meet hosted by the University of Arkansas when the Cowgirls placed 15^th in the 24-team field.
 
The Cowboys didn't fare as well, finishing 19^th after top runner Omer El-Fadl failed to finish the race.
 
Texas won the men's title with 34 points followed by Arkansas (52), Tulane (77), Arkansas State (157) and UIW (157) to round out the top five teams. On the women's side, host team Arkansas placed first with 36 points followed by Texas A&M (90), LSU (129), Tulane (139) and Texas (143).
 
The top two teams advance to the NCAA Championships.
 
Jeny Barcenas was the first Cowgirl to cross the finish line, running a 22:19.6 in the 6-kilometer run to finish in 67^th place. Grace Sullivan was next in 76^th place and running a 22:29.8. Other Cowgirl times include Sorcha Moloney (88^th, 22:39.0), Marta Pascoa (108, 22:57.4), Irene Barreiro-Lopez (132, 23:24.1), Ciara Gilroy (138, 23:33.3), and Jasmine Perez (161, 24:31.1).
 
Arkansas runners Sydney Thorvaldson (19:52.0) and Mia Cochran (20:14.8) finished 1-2 in the individual results where the top four not associated with the top two teams qualify to the NCAA championships and the top 25 earn All-Region honors.
 
On the men's side, Patrick Kiprop (28:38.8) and Kirami Yego (28:43.0), both of Arkansas, finished first and second in the individual results in the 10k race.
 
The top Cowboy to finish was Gilbert Kimutai who placed 65^th with a time of 31:38.5). Rolando Ortiz followed in 74^th place at 31:49.1. Other Cowboy times included Jacob Kipkogei (95^th, 32:25.3), Kevin Kimaiyo (135^th, 33:22.5), Alex Martin (151, 33:55.0), and Sullivan Hanna (36:06.2).
 
Women's Team Results: 1, Arkansas 36; 2, Texas A&M 90; 3, LSU 129; 4, Tulane 139; 5, Texas 143; 6, SMU 143; 7, Arkansas State 166; 8, UT Arlington 215; 9, TCU 223; 10, Rice 259; 11, New Orleans 301; 12, Lamar 347; 13, Central Arkansas 383; 14, Stephen F. Austin 406; 15, McNeese 423; 16, North Texas 452; 17, ULM 486; 18, Little Rock 513; 20, Abilene Christian 521; 20, A&M-Corpus Christi 536; 21, UTRGV 547; 22, ULL 551; 23, Sam Houston 671; 24, Nicholls 672.
 
Men's Team Results: 1, Texas 34; 2, Arkansas 52; 3, Tulane 77; 4, Arkansas State 157; 5, UIW 157; 6, Texas A&M 178; 7, Rice 187; 8, Sam Houston 276; 9, UT Arlington 292; 10, Little Rock 302; 11, Houston 312; 12, North Texas 316; 13, TCU 345; 14, New Orleans 351; 15, Abilene Christian 399; 16, ULM 432; 17, Central Arkansas 439; 18, A&M-Corpus Christi 474; 19, McNeese 495; 20, Baylor 522; 21, Stephen F. Austin 529; 22, Texas State 554; 23, UTRGV 587; 24, ULL 644; 25, Nicholls 776.