MOMENT #9: LIONS TIE BEST-EVER PROGRAM FINISH AT LSC CHAMPIONSHIPS
The 2011-12 A&M-Commerce athletic season was filled with a number of impressive performance and memorable highlights achieved by the Lion student-athletes. To close out the athletic season, LionAthletics.com is looking back at the top-15 moments of the year, voted on by athletic administrators, media members and Lion fans. The moments will be revealed on Mondays and Thursdays, leading into the start of the 2012-13 A&M-Commerce athletic season.
2011 Lone Star Conference Championships Recap (Oct. 22)
2011 A&M-Commerce Men's Cross Country Results (PDF)
Coach Darren Schneider's Reflections (VIDEO)
COMMERCE, Texas – We enter the top-10 moments of the 2011-12 A&M-Commerce athletic season with a group of guys who basically run for fun. The men's cross country team placed third at the 2011 Lone Star Conference Championships in October, tying the best finish in program history and earning the #9 slot in the countdown.
Heading into the season, head coach Darren Schneider knew he had a challenge on his hands as with an incredibly young roster which consisted of six sophomores and a freshman. But thanks to some quality experience by the returners and a pair of transfers, the Lions were up for the challenge.
After a number of impressive performances on the year, A&M-Commerce was optimistic heading into the Lone Star Conference Championships in San Angelo on October 22. Sophomores Isaac Chelimo and Everett Wilder placed 14th and 15th respectively, logging times of 26:20 and 26:21, leading the Lions to a third-place finish with 99 points, 44 points better than fourth-place Angelo State and tying for the best showing in program history.
Thanks to their performances, Chelimo and Wilder were named All-Lone Star Conference selections. Three other Lion runners placed in the top-25 as well as Alex Kimp (26:40) placed 22nd, Raymond Mata (26:42) finished 23rd and Fredrick Kipsang (26:46) checking in at 25th. Kimp was also recognized for his performance both on and off the course, being named to the All-Lone Star Conference Academic Team.
On the year, A&M-Commerce recorded 11 top-10 finishes, including five Lions placing among the top-five, led by Kipsang recording a runner-up finish at the Southern Arkansas Lois Davis Invitational and Chelimo placing third at the Texas Wesleyan Ram Rumble.
A&M-Commerce finished out the season with a solid showing at the 2011 NCAA South Central Regionals, led by Chelimo finishing 51st and giving coach Schneider a renewed sense of optimism heading into 2012.
A&M-Commerce Top-15 Moments Countdown Schedule
Moment #1 - Thursday, August 2
Moment #2 - Monday, July 30
Moment #3 - Thursday, July 26
Moment #4 - Monday, July 23
Moment #5 - Thursday, July 19
Moment #6 - Monday, July 16
Moment #7 - Thursday, July 12
Moment #8 - Monday, July 9
Moment #9 - Men's Cross Country Ties Best Finish in Program History at LSC Championships
Moment #10 - Track and Field Notches A Pair of LSC Individual Champions
Moment #11 - Men's Basketball Wins Final Three Games to Qualify for LSC Tournament
Moment #12 - Football Takes to the Turf at Cowboys Stadium
Moment #13 - Pair of Men's Golfers Capture Individual Tournament Titles
Moment #14 - Women's Track and Field Sets Three School Records
Moment #15 - Women's Basketball Upsets Angelo State 64-61 in Season Finale
