LSU’s cross-country team ran against tough conference competition and unfavorable weather Saturday at the Southeastern Conference Championships in Kentucky for eighth-place men’s and ninth-place women’s finishes. The Tigers were again led across the finish line by junior Joseph Simuchimba and senior Kate Accardo, who finished first for the Tigers at every meet this season. “With [Simuchimba], he’s one of our scholarship runners; so [his success is] expected, and he delivers,” said LSU coach Mark Elliott. “[Accardo] stepped up as the lead runner early this season, and she just never relinquished that position.” Simuchimba finished 10th overall to earn second-team All-SEC honors, but did not receive enough help to earn a better team finish. Jake Simmons (19th), Elkana Kosegei (45th), Alan Sticker (67th) and Richard Chautin (69th) rounded out the scoring for the Tigers. Accardo’s scoring help came from Megan Broussard (62nd), Lindsay Day (64th), Jennifer Radecker (66th) and Christina Porter (67th) as the women’s team continued their trend of running close to one another into the postseason. “Mentally [the runners] got out of it. Maybe it was because the weather wasn’t as conducive as what we’re used to – especially being from Louisiana,” Elliott said. “It was cold and windy and some of them let the weather get the better of them. “They’re good runners, but for whatever reason I guess the weather and enormity of the competition got them overly nervous.” The eighth and ninth place finishes for the Tigers were somewhat disappointing as Elliott went into the meet hoping for two finishes “in the top half-dozen.”
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