BEAUMONT, Texas-  McNeese men's and women's cross country opened its 2023 season with a solid performance Friday with the Cowgirls winning the Lamar Invite and the Cowboys placing second.
 
"Solid first outing by both teams," said head coach Brendon Gilroy.  "It was great to get the first one under our belts and out of the way.  Now it's about building confidence and maintaining fitness."
 
Leading the way for the Cowgirls was sophomore newcomer Jeny Barcenas paced the Cowgirls with a third-place finish with a time of 14:00.42.  Marta Pascoa finished just out of the Top 5, finishing 6^th with a time of 14:10.97.  Rounding out the scoring for the Cowgirls was Sorcha Moloney in 9^th place (14:23.85), Ciara Gilroy finished 11^th (14:33.02), Bonnie Andres placed 21^st (15:10.68) and Grace Sullivan finished 25^th (15:21.66).
 
On the men's side Omer El-Fadl picked up his first collegiate cross country victory with a clocking of 17:30.70. 
 
"Omer ran a great race," said Gilroy.  "He positioned himself early off the fast pace set by the Houston runners and teammates Rolando Ortiz and Gilbert Kimutai.  Omer broke free with just over one mile left to win the race."
 
Ortiz placed fourth with a time of 17:56.75 while Kimutai finished seventh (18.10.66).  Rounding out the Cowboy finishers was Jacob Kipkogei (16^th /18.38.33), Alex Martin (20^th/18.58.56), Filippo Squassina (29^th/19.17.62), Sullivan Hanna (32^nd/19.20.31), Abdullah Elkhair (33^rd/19.21.23), Kevin Kimayo (40^th/19.48.94), and Obied Mohamed (48^th/21.22.71).
 
Next up for the Cowboys and Cowgirls will be its own Cowboy Stamped on Sept. 23.