NEW ORLEANS Freshmen Stanley Limoh of Louisiana and Coastal Carolina's Annie Bothma earned the first Cross Country Newcomer of the Year awards as voted on by the 12 women's and 10 men's head coaches in the Sun Belt Conference.

The award is in its first year and is open to all student-athletes in their first year of competition at the current member institution, including freshmen.

Freshman Stanley Limoh ended his successful first season with the Ragin' Cajuns with a 193rd overall finish at the NCAA Men's Cross Country Championships on Nov. 19th. By racing, Limoh became the first Louisiana student-athlete to compete in the NCAA Cross Country Championships in 45 years. He posted a time of 31:35.4 in the 10,000-meter race in a field that included 251 runners. Limoh placed first in three races this season.

Redshirt freshman Annie Bothma also competed at the NCAA Cross Country Championship, but was forced to withdraw due to an injury. She had one of the most successful seasons in Coastal Carolina cross country history as she was the Southeast Women's Athlete of the Year after she claimed the NCAA Southeast Regional individual title on Nov. 11. She crossed the line with a time of 20:15.4 to earn a second straight regional title for the CCU women's cross country program. She was the top finisher at the Sun Belt Championship meet and was a Sun Belt Runner of the Week twice this season.

Men's Newcomer of the Year
Stanley Limoh (Louisiana, Freshman)

Women's Newcomer of the Year
Annie Bothma (Coastal Carolina, Redshirt Freshman)