The LSU women’s cross country team is having arguably the best season in the program’s history.
“This is the most successful and consistent group of ladies I’ve had,” said LSU coach Mark Elliott. “We had another team that did really well, but in terms of overall success, this team is the best.”
Elliott would know — he has coached at LSU since 1994 and was a runner for the Tigers before then.
The Lady Tigers capped off their regular season with a fourth-place finish at the Chile Pepper Festival on Oct. 13. Elliott said the 43-school meet was the team’s most important race of the season.
The team has competed in the race every season since 2000 but never placed in the top 10.
“I was guessing after that race that it was our top performance,” Elliott said. “The results show that. It’s a testament to how hard the girls have competed and how well they have run.”
The team has two victories under its belt after winning the LSU Invitational and the McNeese Cowboy Stampede in September.
Before those races, the Lady Tigers opened the season with a No. 9 finish at the Commodore Classic.
Senior Laura Carleton has been the team’s leading runner all season. Carleton finished in the top five in every race this season, including two victories.
“This is the best cross [country] season I’ve ever had,” Carleton said. “My times have been improving all year, which is what you are looking for. It is not just me, though. Everyone on this team just keeps getting better.”
Behind Carleton, the Lady Tigers are an experienced, veteran-heavy team. Seniors Brea Goodman, Dakota Goodman and Charlene Lipsey, along with juniors Natoya Goule and Leigh-Ann Naccari comprised the core of the squad.
“The group has grown together from a collection of walk-ons to get to this point,” Elliott said. “It is also a big help when you have a leader like Laura. She leads by example and all the other seniors and runners follow her.”
Elliott said although this regular season has been special, the team’s work is not done. The Southeastern Conference Championship meet is Friday, and the NCAA South Central Regional is Nov. 9.
“I don’t have to do much work with this team,” Elliott said. “They are all good kids who work hard and want to perform as well as possible. That makes my job easy.”
The Lady Tigers have not cracked the top 10 in the SEC meet since a No. 9 finish in 2007.
“I am not one to make predictions,” Carleton said. “There has been a lot of talk, but the SEC is a great conference. I certainly think we can finish in the top half, which has never happened before, so I’m pretty excited.”
