MOBILE, Ala. – As she did last season, junior South Alabama women's cross country runner Laura Labuschaigne opened up the fall season with a win as she crossed the line with a time of 17:40.0 in the 5k to pace the Jaguar women and lead the club to the team title Friday afternoon with a total of 32 points at the Azalea City Classic held at The Grounds.

The Jaguar men had four runners finish inside the top 10 to place second at the event with 35 points behind Louisiana-Lafayette (26 pts).  Migael Strydom led the South men as the freshman placed fourth with a time of 18:41.6 in the 6k race.

Date: 9/8
Meet: Azalea City Classic
Host Institution: South Alabama
Place: The Grounds (Mobile, Ala.)

Women's 5K Results.pdf

Men's 6K Results.pdf

TOP 10 INDIVIDUALS
WOMEN – 5K
1. Laura Labuschaigne, South Alabama (17:40.0); 2. Carolien Millenaar, South Alabama (18:09.2); 3. Courtney Musgrove, Louisiana-Lafayette (18:27.9); 4. Nichole Van Der Merwe, South Alabama (18:32.2); 5. Susanna Pudner, South Alabama (18:33.9); 6. Lindsay Lagarde, Louisiana-Lafayette (18:34.8); 7. Claire Hodges, Louisiana-Lafayette (18:45.5); 8. Arion Spann, Alabama State (18:53.6); 9. Alexa Breaux, Louisiana-Lafayette (18:57.1); 10. Courtney Broussard, Louisiana-Lafayette (19:02.0)

MEN – 6K
1. Stanley Limoh, Louisiana-Lafayette (17:57.7); 2. Beau Robinson, Louisiana-Lafayette (17:58.4); 3. Johnathan Kimutai, Louisiana-Lafayette (18:20.9); 4. Migael Strydom, South Alabama (18:41.6); 5. Ben Rolader, South Alabama (18:43.4); 6. Luke Fielding, South Alabama (18:48.5); 7. Kipkirui Victor, Louisiana-Monroe (18:50.8); 8. Warno Potgieter, South Alabama (18:52.0); 9. Logan Lagarde, Louisiana-Lafayette (18:56.2); 10. Elias Keter, Louisiana-Monroe (18:57.6)

TEAM FINISHES
WOMEN – 5K
1. South Alabama (32 pts); 2. Louisiana-Lafayette (35 pts); 3. Alabama State (76 pts); 4. Louisiana-Monroe (81 pts)

MEN – 6K
1. Louisiana-Lafayette (26 pts); 2. South Alabama (35 pts); 3. Louisiana-Monroe (67 pts); 4. Alabama State (115 pts)

SOUTH ALABAMA INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES
WOMEN – 5K
1) Laura Labuschaigne, South Alabama (17:40.0); 2) Carolien Millenaar (18:09.2); 4) Nichole Van Der Merwe (18:32.2); 5) Susanna Pudner (18:33.9); 24) Katelyn Cowie (21:30.0); 29) Cindy Von Ahlefeldt (22:51.2)

MEN – 6K
4) Migael Strydom (18:41.6); 5) Ben Rolader (18:43.4); 6) Luke Fieldinig (18:48.5); 8) Warno Potgieter (18:52.0); 13) Nate Pudner (19:11.6); 16) Phillip Friedlander (19:23.1); 19) John Paul Rumore (19:31.3)

NOTES
- The meet was the first collegiate cross country meet for five Jaguar freshmen runners – Katelyn Cowie, Carolien Millenaar, Susanna Pudner, Nichole Van Der Merwe and Cindy Von Ahlefeldt – on the women's side, and four newcomers – Migael Strydom, Warno Potgeiter, Nate Pudner and John Paul Rumore – for the South Alabama men.
- The Jaguar women were paced by junior Laura Labuschaigne (17:40.0) came in first out of the 36-runner field.  Strydom placed fourth with a time of 18:41.6 to pace the men in his first collegiate race.
- The win marks the second straight season that Labuschaigne has taken home the individual title at the Azalea City Classic.  Dating back to last season, the Durbanville, West Cape, South Africa, native has finished in the top 30 in each of her last six races.
- The South women also captured four of the top 5 spots to earn the team title and finish with 32 points, edging out Louisiana-Lafayette (35 pts).  
- Finishing in the top 5 for the Jag women along with Labuschaigne were Millnaar (18:09.2, second), Van Der Merwe (18:32.2, fourth) and Pudner (18:33.9, fifth).
- Not only was it S. Pudner's first collegiate race, but her first-ever cross country race as well.
- Led by Strydom, the Jaguar men had had four runners record a top 10 finish at the home meet.  The top-10 finishes by both Rolader (fifth) and Fielding (sixth) were both career best.

THEY SAID IT
Head coach Paul Brueske
- On both team's performances in first race of the fall: "I thought it wa a productive first meet for us.  If we can continue to improve and stay healthy, we out to be competitive this season."
- On Laura Labuschaigne: "Laura ran really well today.  She is very fit and doing great for us right now."

UP NEXT
- South Alabama will next compete on Sept. 30 at the Greater Louisville, hosted by the University of Louisville and the Louisville Sports Commission at E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

Join the Finish Line Club, the track and field and cross country specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund.  All donations to the Finish Line Club go directly to support the South Alabama track and field/cross country programs.  For more information on how you can join visit:  jaguarathleticfund.com/finishlineclub.

—USA—