MONROE, La. – Junior Riley Killian placed first in the women's 5K with a personal best to pace the Louisiana Tech women's cross country team at the Warhawk Cross Country Invitational. The Bulldogs, led by redshirt senior Conner Killian, graduate Austin Ballow and senior John Barham, also helped secure a first-place team finish in the three-team competition.
 
Riley Killian's time of 18:47.0 shattered a previous best from the Conference USA Championships in 2019. Junior Emily Milbourn placed eighth (21:20.0).
 
"For Riley to win outright against two Louisiana Division I schools is really impressive," head coach Gary Stanley said. "Riley shattered her previous PR. Her summer training really paid off."
 
The Bulldogs finished first in the meet with a team total of 23. UL-Lafayette (39) and ULM (79) rounded out the men's field. Conner Killian, Ballow and Barham registered top-five finishes. Conner Killian finished second with a time of 20.39.0, Ballow clocked in at third with a time of 20:50.0 and Barham placed fifth with a time of 21:16.0.
 
Seven Bulldogs – Killian, Ballow, Barham, junior William Harrell, junior Josiah Perez, senior Mason Youberg and sophomore Logan Bailey – placed inside the top 10.
 
"I'm very pleased with the effort," Stanley said. "I'm pleased to win because I respect both of these opposing coaching staffs, and we won despite having only two team practices."
 
No team score was compiled for the women's team due to only two Lady Techsters competing in Friday's race.
 
LA Tech will host its lone home meet of the year, the Mook 4 Invitational, on Oct. 10. The Bulldogs are set to begin at 9 a.m. while the Lady Techsters are slated to start at 9:45 a.m.