Bleu Devils Cross Country Begins GCAC Title Defenses Tonight

NEW ORLEANS The 2022 expectations are high for the Bleu Devils heading into the fall running season. The Dillard University men's and women's cross-country teams begin their Gulf Coast Athletic Conference titles tonight at the University of New Orleans Season Opener event.

At UNO, the women's 5k race will begin at 6 p.m., while the men's 8K are set to follow at approximately 6:45 p.m.

Bleu Devils head coach Nile Legania has two experienced teams ready to equal and better the 2021 performances including GCAC champions senior Joshun Noel (Clinton, Miss.) and junior Jaelynn Hoffman (Grand Rapids, Mich.).

On the women's side, Dillard won the GCAC Championship race with a close 27-32 win over second-place Philander Smith. The Bleu Devils saw their top five runners, who all are back this season, cross of the first 10 finishers with Hoffman running 21:40.1 for the individual title.

Joining Hoffman in the top three GCAC placers was junior Rachel Jackson (Oakland, Calif.) in third. Sophomores Brooklyn Acosta (Mansfield, Texas), Kevel Byrd (Luling, La.) and Karmyn Dotson (Shreveport, La.) were sixth, seventh and 10th respectively. Senior Kaylyn Turner (Jackson, Miss.) was not far back as the final Bleu Devil in 14th to complete a strong top six runners for 2022.

For the men, coach Legania has five of his top six runners back to the Dillard lineup from a year ago where it bested Philander Smith by 15 points, 29-44. Along with GCAC champ Noel, DeVonte Williams (Houma, La.), a senior, was 14 seconds back of Noel for second at the GCAC Championship finish and a third senior Tevrin Jackson (Meridian, Miss.), who was fifth, as the veteran top three.

Junior Malik Durant (Pensacola, Fla.) and sophomore Daniel Martinez (Saint Rose, La.) complete the talented top five returning Bleu Devils.

After Friday's opening event, the Dillard runner will have two weeks to tune up for the Nicholls State Invitational on Sept. 17.

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