McNeese State's Joshua Sawe, David Rooney and Tinette Burger have been named to the Southland Conference all-conference cross country team for 2009.

            The three athletes were McNeese leaders during last week's SLC cross country championship race.  Sawe finished second and Rooney third as the Cowboys placed second in the event while Burger finished third in the women's race for which the Cowgirls placed fifth.

            Sawe, a junior from Kenya, was also named the SLC's male newcomer of the year.  He is the first Cowboy athlete to receive this award.

            Lamar senior Francis Kasagule and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi senior Anne Ronoh were named the league's cross country athletes of the year by vote of the  head coaches.

             Kasagule won the men's title and Ronoh the women's crown.

             In addition to Kasagule's athlete of the year selection, Lamar took home conference freshman of the year honors for the second time in four years as Bob Abimbisibwe joins Kasagule who won the inaugural award in 2006. Lamar also claimed its fourth consecutive coach of the year award as Jake Stewart receives his first career accolade following three consecutive by former Lamar coach Sita Waru.  

            On the women's side, Samantha Walkow of Lamar was named freshman of the year and Pernilla Savestrand of UTSA was named newcomer of the year.

             Stephen F. Austin coach Lou Snelling, a five-time coach of the year recipient with three men's selections (2003-05) and now two women's selections, was named the women's coach of the year for the second time in his career. The previous selection came in 2003.

Individual Award Winners

Male Athlete of the Year - Francis Kasagule, Lamar

Female Athlete of the Year - Anne Ronoh, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi

Male Freshman of the Year - Bob Abimbisibwe, Lamar

Female Freshman of the Year - Samantha Walkow, Lamar

Male Newcomer of the Year - Joshua Sawe, McNeese State

Female Newcomer of the Year - Pernilla Savestrand, UTSA

Men's Coach of the Year - Jake Stewart, Lamar

Women's Coach of the Year - Lou Snelling, Stephen F. Austin

  Men's Cross Country All-Conference Team

  Women's Cross Country All-Conference Team