Cross Country | 10/28/2017 1:32:00 PM

For the first time since 1994, the Texas State women's cross country team stood atop the podium after claiming the 2017 Sun Belt Conference Championship Saturday morning at the State Farm Fields/Kennedy Trails Course. The men just missed on completing the team sweep with a third place finish for the second straight year."We are extremely proud of our women's team and what they were able to accomplish today. They executed at a high level in tough conditions," said Directory of Track & Field/Cross Country. "The men competed tough. Our continued goal is to build a balanced program. Coachhas done an outstanding job in building up our distance program and we are equally excited for the future.""Special thanks toand our entire administration. This win is for all of our alumni and supporters. Thank you!"The women totaled 53 points, 27 fewer than runner-up Appalachian State, on a cold morning in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is the largest point differential between first and second place in conference history since 2010.Leading the way for the Bobcats on the 5K course was junior. The junior was fourth with a personal best time of 17:55.9. Coming in a spot behind her with a career best time of 17:57.4 was. The duo is the first TXST runners to earn first team all-conference honors since joining the Sun Belt.Earning All-SBC second team honors wasand. Long crossed the finish line in 18:00.3 for eighth andwas 10th with a time of 18:01.6. Both runners set personal bests with their times.Also seeing their score count waswith a career best mark of 18:36.2 to finish 26th.The men totaled 75 points with four top 20 finishers. TXST finished five points behind conference champion Appalachian State and two back of UTA. The five-point split between first and third is the closest ever in conference history.For the second year in-a-row the Bobcats had three runners earn all-conference honors.led the way with a seventh place finish in 25:24.3.was 10th in a time of 25:27.3. Both made the All-SBC second team. It was the second straight year for Meade and first-ever honor for Pittdman.crossed the finish line in 25:45.4 to claim 14th and earn third team all-conference.Coming in 18th waswith a time of 25:55.0. The fifth counting runner for the Bobcats to come across the finish line wasin 26th place.Next up for Texas State is the NCAA South Central Regional that takes place Friday, Nov. 10 in College Station, Texas.