Women’s cross country stalls at 19th | Sports Briefs

Women’s cross competed in pre-national competition. Among runners on the Warhawk roster, only sophomore Kaye-Loni Bowden and senior Sharon Jerono have competed in a 6K race at the NCAA Division I level. Sophomore Kimone Campbell ran a 6K race while competing for NCAA Division II Lincoln (Mo.).

Bowden competed in the 6K at the Mississippi College Invitational in 2019, placing 39th in 24:35.3. She also competed in the 6K at the 2019 NCAA Division I South Central Region Cross Country Championships, completing the course in 27:35.0.

Jerono has competed in two 6K races. She first ran in the 6K at the Mississippi College Invitational in 2018, placing 14th in 24:24.0. She ran a personal-best 23:50.0 and placed 19th at the Mississippi College Invitational in 2019. 

Campbell’s only 6K came at the 2019 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Championship, placing 52nd in 23:55.5 while competing for the Blue Tigers.

The Warhawks totaled 514 points as a team. Tennessee won the event with 67 points.

Jerono placed 64th in the 6K race in a personal-best time of 22:29.2. She was followed by Chelimo in 78th in 22:36.3. Battle was 144th in 23:30.4. Campbell was 177th in 24:01.4. Lozano wrapped up the team scoring in 227th in 25:09.5.

Schoen was right behind Lozano in 228th in 25:10.4. 

Soccer earns 4th SBC weekly award

ULM freshman Mara Grutkamp was named Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Week last Tuesday after scoring two goals in last Sunday’s 3-1 win over first place and defending SBC champion South Alabama.

It is the third time a Warhawk has won SBC Offensive Player of the Week honors this season after junior Courtney Marten earned the honor on Sept. 14 and 28. It is the fourth time for a ULM player to win a weekly honor from the SBC with junior goalkeeper Hailey Hillock winning Defensive Player of the Week on Aug. 31.

Grutkamp, a native of Mülheim An Der Ruhr, Germany, scored the first and third goals in last Sunday’s win. ULM struck first in the 17th minute. Freshman Taylor Henry dribbled to the right side of the 18-yard box and sent a cross to the front of the net. Grutkamp was there to slide the ball past USA keeper Jaidy Campos into the lower right corner of the net for the 1-0 lead.

The Warhawks pushed the lead to 3-0 in the 48th minute. Junior Efi Brame worked into the right side of the 18-yard box and centered a pass to the front of the net where Grutkamp was able to convert again.

Grutkamp has four goals and three assists on the season.

Grutkamp’s efforts in the match against South Alabama helped the Warhawks snap a three-game losing skid following the best start in school history.

Men’s cross country finishes in 5th

The Warhawks competed in the 8K at the Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival hosted by Arkansas on Oct. 1, and they finished in fifth place overall. 

Sophomore Rojs Puks led the team in 26:47.5, while freshman Brayden Ortiz finished in 27:15.9 and freshman Teddy Gowen completed the race in 27:21.5. Senior Eric Hawkins completed the race in 29:32.5.

Sophomore Reid Guirlando, freshman Victor Parra, sophomore Adrian Harris and freshman Kolton Kelley also competed at the Chile Pepper Festival.

The Warhawks tallied 131 points in the 8K race. Central Arkansas won the race with 36 points, while Arkansas State was second at 50 points and Little Rock was third at 56 points. 

Mengich ran unattached and finished third in 25:51.1.

Warhawk scoring started with sophomore Rojs Puks, who was 14th in 26:39.5. Ortiz was 26th in 28:01.5. Freshman Teddy Gowen was right behind in 27th in 28:01.6. 

Senior Eric Hawkins was 45th in 28:58.7. Freshman Reid Guirlando wrapped up the team scoring in 69th in 31:57.6. 

Harris was 71st in 32:15.4, while Kelly was immediately behind him in 72nd in 32:19.5.

Next up for ULM is Sun Belt Conference championship in Mobile, Alabama on Oct.  29.