Delta State University

Delta State cross country runner, Rikita Saunders, has been tabbed the CableOne GoStatesmen.com Female Athlete of the Week. 

 The freshman was the top finisher for the Lady Statesmen at Saturday’s Trevecca Nazarene Division II Showcase in Nashville, Tennessee, helping the squad to tenth place overall in the 18-team invitational.  Saunders fought through the heat and humidity on the hilly 5K course to cross the line in 33rd, with a time of 19:59. 

 A native of St. Louis, Saunders has put together an impressive freshman campaign thus far.  After finishing 23rd overall at the Mississippi College Invitational, Saunders posted a three-mile time of 18:51 at the Central Arkansas Invitational.  Her average mile pace of 6:17 was fastest among all freshmen in the Gulf South Conference that week and earned her GSC Freshman of the Week accolades.

 Saunders and the Lady Statesmen cross country team next return to action October 7th, at the Watson Ford Invitational in Clinton, Mississippi.