The cross country team fell to second place in the Lone Star Conference championship in Lawton, Oklahoma for the first time in five years.

West Texas A&M University finished first and was crowned champions of the Lone Star Conference.

“West Texas ran really well,” commented Head Cross Country Coach Koby Styles. “ We just happened to have our worst day of the season.”

Janel Campbell led the Mustangs at eighth with a finishing time of 22:51. Ashley Flores was right behind Campbell as she clocked 22:56. Michelle Krezonoski (23:08), Abigail Gonzalez (23:26) and Kim Krezonoski (23:37) finished 12th, 16th and 19th.

Brittany Adams (23:53) and Tylo Farrar (24:08) finished 24th and 26th to round up the Lady Mustangs top seven runners. MSU had a total running time of 1:55:58 and an average of 23:12. West Texas A&M, on the other hand, clocked a total of 1:53:22 and an average of 22:41. According to Coach Styles, the Lady Buffs were hungrier than the Lady Mustangs were.

Styles expressed his concern over the outcome of the race despite high expectation.

“I’m not satisfied. We have a better team,” he said. “We didn’t run up to our standard.”

MSU has a chance to defend the regional championship on Nov. 3 in Denver, CO.

“It’s not over yet,” Styles said. “We get to live another day.”

The Lady Mustangs have to be among the top five in the regional race to qualify for the championship, which is scheduled for Nov. 17 in Joplin, MO.

“It’s not going to be easy seeing that the No. 1 and 4 in the nation are in our region,” Styles said. “Altitude would be a factor as well.”

Styles and his team have started making plans to defend their regional title.

“We plan on running a little bit tighter as a group,” he said. “If we stick to the plan we will be alright. The girls are motivated and hungry for victory.”