TALLULAH FALLS, Ga. – The Piedmont men’s cross country team laid claim to the 2023 CCS Championship behind sophomore Layton Bradford’s second-place finish. In addition to Bradford, the Lions claimed five of the top 10 spots in the event. Head Coach Jamie Jimison also won CCS Coach of the Year for his work with the men’s program.
The 2023 CCS Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year: Jamie Jimison! pic.twitter.com/iH1dVDTL64
— Piedmont Lions (@PiedmontLions) October 28, 2023
Bradford’s time of 27:35.9 set the bar for the Lions as he cruised to a runner-up finish behind CCS Individual Champion Robert Immell from Berea who ran a 26:53.5.
Senior Walker Capelle claimed third place and All-CCS First Team with a 27:50.9. It was a neck-and-neck race down the stretch but one last burst of speed from Capelle placed him just ahead of the Covenant runners.
Another race down to the final step saw junior Tucker Cox claim seventh place. Cox turned in a time of 28:39.6 that included a 100-yard dash, placing him just .1 seconds faster than his Berea challenger. He claimed a spot on the All-CCS Second team.
Jadon Gonzales and Gary Halverson rounded out the Top 10 for Piedmont. Gonzales turned in a time of 28:57.9 for ninth place, while Halverson crossed in 29:04.7 for 10th place. Both men earned All-CCS Second Team honors.
Finishing as the first runner outside the Top 10 was freshman Grady Sanders. Coming off a PR performance last week, Sanders once again had a great meet with a 29:40.2. Fellow freshman Parker Snelson cracked the Top 20 at the meet with a time of 30:48.8.
Peter Sligh (32:29.6), Keegan Ivey (32:35.0), Sammy Maddox (33:02.5), and Eliu Flores (33:22.4) rounded out the meet for the Lions.
Up next, Piedmont prepares to take this momentum and keep moving forward at the NCAA South Region Championships. The event is Saturday, November 11 at Mount Berry, Ga.
Complete Men’s results:
Layton Bradford – 27:35.9
Walker Capelle – 27:50.9
Tucker Cox – 28:39.6
Jadon Gonzales – 28:57.9
Gary Halverson – 29:04.7
Grady Sanders – 29:40.2
Parker Snelson – 30:45.8
Peter Sligh – 32:29.6
Keegan Ivey – 32:35.0
Sammy Maddox – 33:02.5
Eliu Flores – 33:22.4
