Lamar sports information

COLLEGE STATION —It all starts with “rehearsals” to prepare the Lamar cross country teams before they can set out to defend their four titles in six years, and the 2015 rehearsals start tonight at the Texas A&M Opener hosted at the Dale Watts Cross Country course.

LU, which swept both the men’s and women’s Southland Conference Championships in both 2013 and 2014, joins Texas A&M and Texas-San Antonio in a race of 4,000 meters for the women and 6,000 meters for the men. The ladies are expected to start at 6:45 and the men will follow, approximately 7:15.

“We’re always excited when cross country season opens up. It’s a season of high expectations for our program. The kids that we have right now have done a good job of preparing themselves for summer,” said track and field head coach Trey Clark. “This weekend is the first step in our chance to defend both titles.  For us, it’s just a first step.  There is not a lot of emphasis placed on this meet. But it’s always exciting to put the uniform on for the first in the season.”

The Cardinals will look for strong performances this season from returners Sean Chalmers, Andres Espinoa, Stuart Ferguson, Tye Norman and Tobias Riker. For the ladies, Evelyn Chavez and Cara Ortiz return.

LAMAR HIRES HOUCHIN AS ASSISTANT COACH

BEAUMONT — Head coach Trey Clark added 16-year coaching veteran Tony Houchin as Lamar University track and field assistant coach in charge of distance and cross country, announced the program Thursday, just before its 2015 cross country season opens on Friday.

He takes the place of Darren Gauson, who recently accepted the head coach position at Bradley University.  Houchin will serve as the distance coach during the track season and cross country coach during the fall.