RUSTON—Leah Thompson and Korbin Shumate led the charge for the Northwestern State cross country teams during the Mook 4 Invitational on Saturday morning on the campus of Louisiana Tech.

Shumate and Thompson, both seniors, led the way for the teams as they continue to prepare for November's Southland Conference Championships.

Shumate ran a 27:42.2 in the 8K race to place 22^nd to pace the Demons out of 53 runners and finish second among competitors not representing TCU or UL Monroe.

The 27:42.2 is the best 8K time for Shumate since the 2022 SLC Championships.

Thompson clocked a 21:28.86 to finish 26^th for the Lady Demons out of 54 finishers.

"I was impressed with both Leah and Korbin," head coach Payten Vidourek said. "The hills were big factors and the distance was a little longer than I thought the race was for the men. It was a battle for them all, but they performed well."

On the men's side, Owen Rue finished behind Shumate with a 30^th place finish, clocking a 29:52.04. Kaden Elliot finished third among the Demons, running a 30:19.93 to place 35^th.

Mason Bayne (31:20.52) finished 40^th and Benjamin Brasseaux (32:50.61) placed 46^th to round out the Demons.

As a team, the Demons came in fourth out of the seven programs competing with 124 points, finishing behind TCU, UL Monroe and Louisiana Tech.

On the women's side, Faith Bryant finished second among the Lady Demons, running a 23:23.48 to place 32^nd. She finished right in front of Chesney Mathews (24:08.03), who placed 34^th and Samantha Todaro (24:20.05), who finished 35^th.
Gracie Evers (25:10.07) finished 37^th and Brea Baca-White (28:52.56) placed 41^st to round out the Lady Demons.

"The legs were a little dead for the women," Vidourek said. "With the hills and competing in their second meet in as many weeks, you could see it in their faces. But they showed grit and determination to fight through it and perform well."

The Northwestern State women placed sixth out of seven with 149 points.

The cross country teams have a week off before one final meet at Mississippi College prior to the SLC Championships on Nov. 1.