MOBILE, Ala. – Saturday at the Sun Belt Conference Cross Country Championships saw junior Leslie Romero became the first woman to win the individual title for Texas State since 1994. With her performance, the Bobcats were able to total 46 points to finish a point behind Appalachian State from claiming back-to-back team championships.
 
Romero led throughout most of the 5,000-meter race. She put down a personal best time of 17:22.91 for the second fastest time at the distance in TXST history. The Houston native became the third Bobcat to earn All-Sun Belt First Team honors, all coming the past two years. Romero also picked up the Sun Belt Women's Runner of the Year and Newcomer of the Year awards.

Kendra Long was an all-conference second team performer for the second straight year. She crossed the finish line in 17:49.9 to place sixth. Her time is the sixth best time at the distance in program history.
 
Joining Long on the second team was Devina Schneider. The senior came in 10^th in 17:55.4, the seventh fastest time in TXST history. She surpassed her previous personal best mark at the distance by half a second as well.
 
Placing on the All-Sun Belt Third Team was Sydney Cole. The transfer from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi crossed the line in 13^th-place with a personal best time of 17:59.7.
 
Rounding out the counting scores for Texas State was Abby Steinhauser-San Miguel. She came in 17^th in 18:14.3, a personal best. Coming in right behind her nearly a second back was teammate McKynzie King.
 
The one-point margin for the women's team championship tied for the closest in the history of the conference, the only other time being in 1995. With its runner-up finish, the Bobcats have put together top two finishes at a conference meet for the first time since becoming a NCAA Division I program.
 
On the men's side, Joseph Meade earned All-Sun Belt First Team accolades as he crossed the finish line in fifth. He posted a time of 25:01.0 on the 8,000-meter course. It is the third consecutive years he has been an all-conference performer after making the second team the previous two campaigns.
 
Joining him on one of the All-Sun Belt squads was Dereck Elkins. The freshman completed the race in a personal best time of 25:40.5 to place 13^th and make the third team.
 
Cade Michael placed in the top 25 after running a personal best time of 26:10.8. Rounding out the scoring for the men's team was Owen McGlothlin (28^th) and Travian Holst (33^rd).
 
Next up for the Bobcats is the NCAA South Central Regional. The meet takes place Friday, Nov. 9 in College Station, Texas.
 
For the latest on Texas State track and field, visit the official website of Texas State Athletics at www.txstatebobcats.com and follow the team on Twitter at @TxStateTrack.