By Katherine Jamtgaard. NEW ORLEANS — The App State men’s and women’s cross country teams collected a host of postseason awards after sweeping the Sun Belt men’s and women’s team titles at the SBC Championships on Nov. 1.
Men’s distance coach Brad Herbster was named Sun Belt Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year for a second consecutive year and women’s distance coach Annie Richards was named Sun Belt Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year.
Henry Stark and Breanna Budzinski swept the SBC Freshman of the Year honors, and senior Lauren Johnston was named the SBC Women’s Newcomer of the Year. Additionally, 10 Mountaineers earned All-SBC honors.
“Thank you to the team for their tremendous work this fall and to the support from our director of track & field/cross country Damion McLean, our director of athletics Doug Gillin, and our alumni,” Herbster said.
Herbster led the App State men’s cross country team to its second consecutive Sun Belt Men’s Cross Country team title on Friday as the team recorded a score of 30, which was two points more than last year’s total of 28 (the lowest total at the Sun Belt Championships since 2013). Six Mountaineers finished in the top-10 to collect all-conference honors.
Junior Ethan Lipham finished fourth with an 8K time of 24:40.60 and redshirt junior Chase Burrell took fifth with a time of 24:47.20 to earn First Team All-SBC honors. Redshirt senior Calbert Guest (24:55.20, sixth), Stark (24:56.40, seventh), freshman Thomas Wlazlowski (24:56.90, eighth), and graduate student Ethan Turner (25:02.10, 10th) collected Second Team All-SBC honors. Burrell garnered the Sun Belt’s Elite Award for his performance and sportsmanship, while Stark’s performance earned him Freshman of the Year Honors.
Richards guided the women’s cross country team to its first Sun Belt team title since 2018 in her second year leading the program. The Mountaineers scored 45 points, which was 61 fewer points than the runner-up team score. Four Mountaineers finished in the top-15 to collect all-conference honors.
Senior Jasmine Donohue placed third overall and collected First-Team All-SBC honors with a personal best 5K time of 17:18.85. Fellow seniors Lauren Johnston and Emma Russum finished sixth (17:43.92) and seventh (17:46.34) to earn Second-Team All-SBC distinction. Johnston was also named SBC Women’s Cross Country Newcomer of the Year for her efforts on the course. Senior Lana Farris stopped the clock at 18:01.82 to finish 13th and earn Third-Team All-SBC honors. Budzinski was the first freshman to cross the finish line in the women’s 5K, clocking a time of 18:14.24 to place 16th overall.
“Congratulations to Jasmine, Lauren, Emma and Lana on their All-Conference finishes,” Richards said. “Breanna impressed with her strength and resilience throughout the fall culminating in her Freshman of the Year award. Lauren is making a name for herself in the Black and Gold and I’m proud she won Newcomer of the Year.”
The Mountaineers will compete in the NCAA Southeast Regional, which is slated for Nov. 15 in Rock Hill, S.C.
2024 Sun Belt Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year: Annie Richards, App State
2024 Sun Belt Women’s Cross Country Newcomer of the Year: Lauren Johnston, App State
2024 Sun Belt Women’s Cross Country Elite Award Winner: Molly Jones, Coastal Carolina
2024 Sun Belt Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Year: Kylee Mastin, Marshall
2024 Sun Belt Women’s Cross Country Freshman of the Year: Breanna Budzinski, App State
2024 Women’s Cross Country First Team All-Conference
Jasmine Donohue, App State
Molly Jones, Coastal Carolina
Katherine Lawson, James Madison
Kylee Mastin, Marshall
Maria Kaylor, Southern Miss
2024 Women’s Cross Country Second Team All-Conference
Lauren Johnston, App State
Emma Russum, App State
Isabelle Russell, Louisiana
Hannah Wyler, Marshall
Charleen Elizondo, South Alabama
2024 Women’s Cross Country Third Team All-Conference
Lana Farris, App State
Maja Dzialoszewska, Arkansas State
Addison Laughlin, Coastal Carolina
Ella Segura, Louisiana
Abigail Parra, Texas State
2024 Sun Belt Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year: Brad Herbster, App State
2024 Sun Belt Men’s Cross Country Newcomer of the Year: Sacha Perrier, South Alabama
2024 Sun Belt Men’s Cross Country Elite Award Winner: Chase Burrell, App State
2024 Sun Belt Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Year: Jacob Pyeatt, Arkansas State
2024 Sun Belt Men’s Cross Country Freshman of the Year: Henry Stark, App State
2024 Men’s Cross Country First Team All-Conference
Chase Burrell, App State
Ethan Lipham, App State
Nati Enright, Arkansas State
Jacob Pyeatt, Arkansas State
Sacha Perrier, South Alabama
2024 Men’s Cross Country Second Team All-Conference
Ethan Turner, App State
Calbert Guest, App State
Henry Stark, App State
Thomas Wlazlowski, App State
Evan Stevens, Arkansas State
2024 Men’s Cross Country Third Team All-Conference
Adam Groves, Coastal Carolina
Peyton Chiasson, Louisiana
Carson Barlow, South Alabama
Amos Pkemoi, South Alabama
Koket Jimata, Texas State
