By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
Emily Carpenter will soon be a Lady Cardinal at Lamar University in Beaumont, Tex., after signing a scholarship with the Division I program on Monday afternoon at Panther Pavilion in front of friends and faculty.
Lamar has a rich tradition in athletics, as a member of the Southland Conference since the league founded in 1963. It is also one of four non-football schools in the 12-school league, with a higher emphasis on its track-and-field/cross country endeavors.
Carpenter had offers from the University of Memphis, UALR and Missouri State, but said that Lamar’s medical program, combined with the academic focus of her future teammates were two major factors in her decision.
“Plus, I just like Texas,” Carpenter said. “I don’t know why, I just do.”
Carpenter has been selected as first-team All-Conference for two years running, leading the Lady Panthers cross country team to a conference title last fall, while earning a No. 1 individual ranking along the way. She took the fastest individual time at the conference meet last September with a winning time of 19:42.67. She also won the 3200-meter run at the 7A-Central track meet in Russellville last spring.
Look for a full-length feature on Cabot’s newest DI signee in an upcoming edition of The Leader.
