Members of the 2016 women’s cross country team were on hand during halftime of Saturday’s women’s basketball game against Wesleyan College to receive their championship rings after having claimed last season’s USA South title.
In all, eight athletes were a part of last season’s championship team, taking part in the championship ring ceremony along with Head Coach Jeff Jenkins, the 2016 women’s cross country coach of the year.
The ladies of Piedmont left no doubt as they topped the defending champions, Meredith College by a 43-point margin at the championship meet on October 29, ending Meredith’s three year reign. The first five runners across the line for the Lady Lions were junior REESE BOWLES, freshman CASEY TODD, freshman MONICA JIMENEZ, sophomore KRISTIN WHITLOCK and freshman ANALEE BRADACH respectively.
These five ladies were all named USA South All-Conference making Piedmont the only team with more than 3 individuals on the All-Conference Team. Additionally, freshman MELANIE RIMAWI was named Honorable Mention with an 18th place finish.
The Piedmont women dominated the USA South scene this past fall going 30-0 against USA South competition. During the regular season, the Piedmont women had individuals named USA South Runner of the Week and USA South Rookie of the week a combined total of nine times.
These ladies broke the program record for the Fastest 6k Team Average with a mark of 25:08 in route to the Lady Lions’ best conference finish since they won the GSAC crown 5 years ago in the fall of 2011. Junior REESE BOWLES was named USA South Runner of the Year after she won the individual title while freshman CASEY TODD finished fourth individually and was the top freshmen in the league earning USA South Rookie of the Year.
The championship marked the first USA South Women’s Cross Country Championship for Piedmont College since joining the league in 2012 and the first women’s cross country title since they won the GSAC crown in the fall of 2011.
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