NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans cross country program made it a clean sweep at the 2019 Allstate Sugar Bowl XC Festival as juniors
Arina Kleshchukova and
Kolyn Saltzman took the individual crowns and both the men's and women's units captured the team championships at City Park on Saturday morning.
It is the first time in program history that a female athlete has won two straight races for the Privateers since Ruth Jepchirchir picked up victories at the Southern Cross Country Invitational and the Sun Belt Championships over a two-week stretch during the 2015 season.
For the men, it is the first time New Orleans has won consecutive races in program history dating back to the start of official data in 2000. It is also the first time a men's athlete has captured an individual victory since now assistant coach
Clayton O'Callaghan took the top prize at the 2016 Watson Ford Invitational.
"We came and basically did exactly what we were looking for," Privateer distance coach
Brock Moreaux said. "We were looking to establish our dominance in the city again."
"The goal for the guys was to put as many as we could into the top-10 and the same for the girls in the top-15 and I'm really excited about the girls team getting a chance to see what they could actually do," Moreaux added. "They were third in the home meet last time while the guys won and I think that might have triggered them a little bit and got them going. I was very happy to see them get the victory today. We came to try to get some individual wins and some team wins and we came away with all four."
It was two different style of races for the men's and women's teams.
The men got the day started off with a controlled start to their 5K. For the first two miles of the race the Privateers stuck together near the front in a tight pack with the rest of the runners. Once the last mile hit though, New Orleans hit the gas and separated from the field.
Saltzman led the charge with his first-place finish at 15:38.0. The rest of the pack was right behind as the Privateers placed fourth in the top-five with
David Hidalgo (third/15:39.2),
Julian Silva (fourth/15:40.4) and
Kristian Oatman (fifth/15:41.7). The scoring attack was rounded out by
Cade Litolff in seventh overall (15:44.9).
As a whole New Orleans had under a seven second gap between its No. 1 and 5 runners while the top-nine Privateers crossed the line within 32 seconds of one another. With its performance the group posted just 20 team points to win the championship.
"For the men our strategy was for our top-10 guys to stay together with the other top runners in the race up until two miles," Moreaux said. "Anywhere from two miles to 1K to go, that's when we wanted them to turn the switch on and they executed it perfectly."
The women's side was a little different in terms of what they were trying to accomplish as a group. While Kleshchukova had a similar style to the men, the game plan for the rest of the women were to try to stick together for as long as possible before they each let it loose at their own pace at the end.
The plan worked to perfection as Kleschukova cruised to the victory at 18:17.2. She was followed by
Brianna Lucas in fifth (19:44.8),
Anna Martin in seventh (19:58.3),
Michelle Folk in eighth (20:01.8) and
Allie Louis in 13
th (20:53.3).
New Orleans easily took the women's team title with the showing as the Privateers recorded 34 total points.
"For the women, Arina had the same strategy as the men, just to stay smooth for the first two miles and then over that last mile to really go," Moreaux added. "For the other ladies we were just trying to keep that 2-4 group as tight as possible and then our No. 5 is going to be a difference maker over the rest of the year and those athletes did a good job, Allie and
Jantrell Drakes, of stick right together as well. Their spread this week was better than the last time out and that's all you can ask for."
The Privateers will be back in action with the running of the Nicholls Cross Country Invitational down in Thibodaux, La. on Saturday, Sept. 21.
More details to follow on the Nicholls Cross Country Invitational on the schedule page of New Orleans Cross Country.
NEW ORLEANS MEN'S RESULTS
1.
Kolyn Saltzman – 15:38.0
3.
David Hidalgo – 15:39.2
4.
Julian Silva – 15:40.4
5.
Kristian Oatman – 15:41.7
7.
Cade Litolff – 15:44.9
8.
Chandler Sullivan – 15:51.2
9.
Nicholas Phillips – 15:57.3
10.
Lucas Marcello – 16:09.9
11.
Jesus Gutierrez – 16 :12.2
17.
Alex Soileau – 16:41.9
20.
Christopher Wagner – 16:49.2
33.
Cameron Carpenter – 17:22.7
NEW ORLEANS WOMEN'S RESULTS
1.
Arina Kleshchukova – 18:17.2
5.
Brianna Lucas – 19:44.8
7.
Anna Martin – 19:58.3
8.
Michelle Folk – 20:01.8
13.
Allie Louis – 20:53.3
16.
Jantrell Drakes – 21:09.6
53.
Heidi Menier – 26:15.5
TOP-FIVE MEN'S TEAM SCORE
1. New Orleans – 20 Points
2. Loyola - 52
3. Spring Hill - 88
4. Millsaps - 93
5. Belhaven - 153
TOP-FIVE WOMEN'S TEAM SCORE
1. New Orleans – 34 Points
2. Spring Hill - 55
3. Millsaps - 68
4. Delta State - 108
5. Loyola - 122
