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| Kwame Jackson |
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| Catherine Fakler |
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| Joseph Moses |
Fakler is the first female runner from a non-NCAA Division I school to receive this honor.
Xavier also was represented on the All-Louisiana men's team. Kwame Jackson was chosen for the second time in three years, and Joseph Moses was selected Coach of the Year.
The Louisiana Sports Writers Association announced the teams late Saturday. An LSWA panel of sports publicists selected the teams.
Fakler, a junior from Phoenix, Ariz., and a graduate of Xavier College Preparatory High School, ran 5,000 meters in 18 minutes, 8.32 seconds at the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Championships on Oct. 26 — a school record by more than 30 seconds and the fastest at the GCAC meet since 1998. She set XU records in 3-of-5 meets before nationals, became the second female in the program's history to win consecutive races, and she recorded Xavier's highest-ever finish (68th) at the NAIA National Championships.
It's the third consecutive academic year that an XU athlete won the highest award on an All-Louisiana team. Loic Didavi was the Louisiana Player of the Year in men's tennis in 2012 and shared the award this past season. Prior to this streak, no Louisiana athlete from an NAIA school had won a highest award since 1995.
Jackson, a junior from Kingwood, Texas, and a graduate of Kingwood Park High School, won the GCAC men's title for second time in three years, and his 8K time of 27:15.84 was the second-fastest of his career and the second-fastest at the GCAC meet in the last five years. It was his second victory of the season.
Jackson is the first Gold Rush runner to be named All-Louisiana twice.
"Great job this year by Catherine and Kwame," Moses said. "Catherine had the best year in Xavier women's cross country history. She has improved tremendously since she arrived at Xavier. Kwame ran strong all season. He has a chance to win his third GCAC title next year. That's never happened in our league before."
Moses is the men's Coach of the Year for the fourth time — he also won in 2006, 2007 and 2008 — and broke a tie with Ron Bazil (1995, 1998, 2001) for the most awards. He led the Gold Rush to two meet victories, including an eighth consecutive GCAC title, and produced a .692 winning percentage, XU's best since the program was reinstated in 1994.
This is the ninth season at Xavier for Moses. He is a five-time women's Coach of the Year in Louisiana and was the runner-up for that award this season.
2013 All-Louisiana Women's Cross Country Team
Andria Aguilar, junior, LSU
Tessni Carruthers, junior, Nicholls State
Catherine Fakler, junior, Xavier
Pauline Muiruri, sophomore, Louisiana-Monroe
Morgan Schuetz, sophomore, LSU
Katharine Smiley, freshman, Tulane
Amy Talbot, senior, McNeese State
Runner of the Year: Catherine Fakler, Xavier
Newcomer of the Year: Pauline Muiruri, Louisiana-Monroe
Freshman of the Year: (tie) Claire Hodges, Louisiana-Lafayette; Katharine Smiley, Tulane
Coach of the Year: Andy Canegitta, Loyola
2013 All-Louisiana Men's Cross Country Team
Paul Freese, junior, Loyola
Kwame Jackson, junior, Xavier
Dussan Makevic, freshman, Louisiana-Monroe
Philip Primeaux, junior, LSU
Paul Sakit, sophomore, Louisiana Tech
Adam Yohanan, sophomore, Tulane
Runner of the Year: Paul Freese, Loyola
Newcomer of the Year: Paul Sakit, Louisiana Tech
Freshman of the Year: (tie) Dusan Makevic, Louisiana-Monroe; Logan Pearce, Louisiana-Lafayette
Coach of the Year: Joseph Moses, Xavier
By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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