CLINTON, Mississippi—Ceyda Bayur continued a strong cross country season, leading the way once again at the Watson Cross Country Classic on Friday morning on the campus of Mississippi College.

Like she has all year, Bayur, paced the Lady Demons with a 20^th place finish out of 167 runners in her first collegiate 6k, recording a 24:05.10.

Bayur led all Southland Conference competitors in the meet, proving she is ready for the conference championships, as this is the final meet before then.

As a team, the Lady Demons finished 12^th out of 20 participants, placing one spot behind Southeastern Louisiana.

Host school Mississippi College dominated the race, finishing with seven of the top of the eight times and nine of the top 12 and with just 19 total points to lead the women's teams. The next closest team was Blue Mountain with 102 points, as the top five finishers from each school making up the total, so the lower score the better.

"Both teams competed very well," head coach Dillon Dawson said. "I was especially pleased with the women's team. Being such a young team, this was the first time running a 6k for a number of them, and I felt they responded quite well to the step up in distance."

Finishing behind Bayur for the Lady Demons was Leah Thompson, who finished in 68^th place with a 26:05.70. Lalaina Wood (27:44.70), Samantha Todaro (28:27.80) and Makaya Damon (29:17.10) rounded out the Lady Demons finishers, placing 100^th, 111^th and 122^nd, respectively.

On the men's side, John Klein once again paced the Demon participants.

Klein, a junior from Callisburg, Texas, finished 40^th out of 200 contestants, clocking a 27:00.20, finishing second among SLC runners.

As a team, the Demons finished ninth out of 25 participating teams.

Mississippi College won the men's side as well, but not in as dominant fashion. It had the top two finishers and six of the top 15, totaling 33 points. UT-Dallas came in second with 79 points.

Korbin Shumate finished just behind Klein on the Demons, placing 64^th with a time of 27:55.20. Conner Mackie (28:23.70) and Brian Norton (28:24.10) finished back-to-back in 82^nd and 83^rd place, respectively.

Robert Norton (29:42.10) and Waylon Wright (31:09.10) rounded out the Demon finishers, placing 122^nd and 152^nd, respectively.

The cross country teams take a week off before traveling to San Antonio for the SLC championships, which take place Oct. 27, concluding the cross country season.