By Michael G. Hawkins
AIKEN, SC – Led by junior Ian Wallace and sophomore Whitney Wagner, the Francis Marion University men’s and women’s cross country teams placed eighth and ninth respectively at the Peach Belt Conference Championship Meet, Saturday morning (Oct. 22).
The Patriots will next compete in the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Championships in Charlotte on Nov. 5.
Wallace completed the 8,000-meter course in 29:15 to place 42nd. Freshman Justin Koehn finished 43rd in 29:15, followed by senior Ryan Woloszyn in 45th (29:37), junior Justin Albertson in 47th (29:41), freshman Alex McIntosh in 48th (personal-best 29:54), freshman Justin Carter in 50th (29:58), and sophomore Michael Bigelow in 56th (32:17).
Wagner placed 32nd by touring the women’s 6,000-meter course in 25:31. Senior Samantha Smith was 41st with a time of 26:24, followed by sophomore LaMeisha Jackson in 61st (29:54), sophomore Diana Levy in 62nd (30:16), freshman Allyson Franklin in 63rd (personal-best 30:17), and sophomore London Barnhill in 65th (31:14).
Augusta State University edged UNC Pembroke for the men’s team title, while the University of Montevallo captured the women’s crown.
