CANYON, Texas – West Texas A&M's Eliette Chaput and Julie Lafare were honored for their efforts in the classroom on Thursday afternoon as the Lone Star Conference announced their annual Cross Country Academic awards.
 
Chaput, a Marketing major, was named to the LSC All-Academic Team while Lafare was tabbed the league's female Academic Runner of the Year. Lafare is the fifth Lady Buff in program history to be named the Academic Runner of the Year to join: Jessica Blakely (2010), Emma Love (2013, 2014), Aubrey Watson (2018) and Lexi Maul (2024).
 
A senior from Uzes, France, Lafare is majoring in Sports & Exercise Science carrying a 4.0 cumulative grade-point average. She has been named to the LSC Commissioner's Honor Roll in each of her semesters at West Texas A&M. During the 2025 season, Lafare finished fourth at the 2025 LSC Women's Cross Country Championships (21:30.9) claiming her second career all-conference finish as the Lady Buffs took the team title for a third year. The 2024 LSC Runner of the Year and All-American, Lafare led WT to a runner-up finish at last season's NCAA Division II Championship.
 
The Cross Country All-Academic Team, selected by vote of the LSC sports information directors, recognizes student-athlete accomplishments in the classroom and on the cross country course. To be eligible for the All-Academic Team ballot, individuals must carry a minimum a 3.30 cumulative grade-point average and have reached sophomore athletic eligibility.
 
West Texas A&M returns to the course this weekend as they travel to Pueblo, Colorado to take part in the NCAA South Central Regional Championships at Walking Stick Golf Club. The women's 7K race begins at 11:00 a.m. CT followed by the men's 10K race at 12:15 p.m. CT.