D'Souza, Kwame Jackson lead Xavier at national meet
November 19, 2011

Results:  Men    Women

     VANCOUVER, Wash. — Anna D'Souza and Kwame Jackson were the fastest finishers for Xavier University of Louisiana on Saturday at the NAIA Cross Country National Championships.
     D'Souza, a senior, ran 5,000 meters in 20 minutes, 26 seconds to place 238th out of 323 women. Her time is the Gold Nuggets' fastest at nationals, surpassing Katrina Davis' 20:40.9 in 2003, and D'Souza closed her XU career with her two fastest 5K times. She was fifth in 20:24.93 at the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Championships four weeks earlier.
     Jackson, a freshman and a GCAC individual champion, ran 8,000 meters in 27:40 to finish 275th out of 312 men. His time is second fastest by a Gold Rush runner at nationals.
     Xavier's women finished 30th out of 32 teams, and the men finished 31st out of 32. It's the first time the Gold Nuggets finished ahead of two teams at nationals.
     GCAC individual champion Zahri Jackson, Kwame's sister, was 259th in 20:42. Catherine Fakler was 265th in 20:50, Donyé Coleman was 287th in 21:18, Darian Towns was 299th in 21:36, Ashley Taylor was 312th in 21:59, and Hali Yarmush was 315th in 22:09.
     In the men's race Xavier's Matt Pieri was 296th in 28:26. Javon Mead was 301st in 28:54, Emmanuel Deteige was 310th in a career-best 30:14, and Jamaal Williams was 312th in 31:37.
     Cal State San Marcos won its third consecutive women's championship, and Grand View's Obsie Birru was the individual winner in 17:15. Oklahoma Christian won the men's championship, and Wayland Baptist's Kennedy Kithuka finished in 23:15 to repeat as individual winner.
     It was the third time in four seasons that both XU teams competed at nationals.