Piedmont cross country dominated the USA South Cross Country Championships, as the men took home their second straight conference title and the women took their first.
The Piedmont College men’s cross country team sealed a second straight USA South Cross Country Championship with an impressive performance Saturday on the home course. The Lions won with just 30 points over runners up Covenant College with 54 points putting in 10 athletes before Covenant’s five.
Piedmont had seven all-conference runners including the USA South runner up as BRYCE GRIGGSfinished second overall and first for the Lions for the first time this season. Griggs ran a 28:22.70 coming in behind champion Daniel Beckett of Maryville who was named USA South Runner & Rookie of the Year.
Freshman NATHAN GALLOWAY was third overall running a 28:39.00 with senior CODY PARKERcoming in fifth running a 28:57.50. Parker never finished lower than 7th in the USA South Conference Championship Meet in his four years and beat 2013 conference champion Sean Hagstrom for the first time in a championship meet this year.
JARROD HOWELL also made the top 10 running a 29:22.90 finishing ninth overall followed by JOHNATHON QUINN in 11th who rounded out the top five for Piedmont with a 29:37.50. The Lions had six of the eight spots from 9-16 as the Lions had a pack mentality and their depth proved to be the difference.
ANDREW GALE was once again Piedmont’s #6 coming in 12th in the meet running a 29:49.90 followed by CORY MCCLUNG, WILLIAM FOSTER and CONLEY WILHELM. Those three finished back-to-back-to-back as McClung was 14th running a 30:15.40, Foster was 15th with a time of 30:23.70 and Wilhelm was 16th posting a 30:33.30. DEWAYNE CAGLE was just off that group running a 30:56.30.
The conference championship marks the second straight for Piedmont College in the third year under Head Coach Jeff Jenkins who was named the USA South Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year for the second year as well.
Standout Performances
—BRYCE GRIGGS had his best race of the season leading the team and coming in as the runner up overall in the conference running a 28:22.70.
–Compared to the Piedmont Invitational which was also the USA South Preview, eight athletes ran faster times on the same course.
Inside the Numbers
–Piedmont took half of the all-conference spots with seven of the 14 first and second team all-conference athletes.
Complete Piedmont Results
BRYCE GRIGGS – 28:22.70
NATHAN GALLOWAY – 28:39.00
CODY PARKER – 28:57.50
JARROD HOWELL – 29:22.90
JOHNATHON QUINN – 29:37.50
ANDREW GALE – 29:49.90
CORY MCCLUNG – 30:15.40
WILLIAM FOSTER – 30:23.70
CONLEY WILHELM – 30:33.30
DEWAYNE CAGLE – 30:56.30
News & Notes
-The first three runners across the line in the conference meet were all freshmen as the future of USA South men’s cross country looks bright with talented youth.
Up Next
Piedmont will head to the NCAA South/Southeast Regional after a week off competing on November 12 at Berry College for the third time this season.
To complete the sweep at home, the Piedmont College Women’s Cross Country team dominated the 2016 USA South Conference Meet winning the conference championship. The championship marks the first for Piedmont since joining the league in 2012 as they scored 37 points with runners up Meredith scoring 80.
REESE BOWLES took the individual title as she led throughout the race running a 23:42.80. Bowles recorded a school record, personal best and new course record as she is now undefeated at home. The junior from Jefferson, Georgia has won each of the three meets held on the home course (2015 Piedmont Invitational, 2016 Piedmont Invitational, 2016 USA South Championship).
CASEY TODD finished fourth overall in the meet as the top freshman in the conference running a 25:00.40. Todd earned USA South Rookie of the Year and joined Bowles on the first team all-conference listing.
MONICA JIMENEZ saved the best for the championship as she had a personal best running a 25:59.70 finishing third for Piedmont and ninth overall. KRISTIN WHITLOCK was also top 10 in the meet as she was just seconds off Jimenez with a 26:08.80. Piedmont finished with four athletes in the top 10 as no other school had more than two in the top 10.
ANALEE BRADACH stepped up to fill the fifth spot for Piedmont posting a 26:25.00 coming in 13th while MELANIE RIMAWI ran a 26:42.50 finishing 18th. MACKENZIE DEVINE was also in the top 25 running a 27:11.60 while AMBER DUFFY posted a 29:42.60.
For the Lady Lions, this marks the first championship in the USA South after being picked preseason #3. Piedmont was able to put seven runners across before Meredith’s fourth runner giving Piedmont the decisive advantage.
Standout Performances
—REESE BOWLES won the USA South Women’s Cross Country Individual title and was named USA South Runner of the Year.
—CASEY TODD finished as the top freshman in the league coming in fourth overall and was awarded USA South Rookie of the Year.
Inside the Numbers
–Piedmont won the meet in dominant fashion by 43 points over Meredith College.
Complete Piedmont Results
REESE BOWLES – 23:42.80
CASEY TODD – 25:00.40
MONICA JIMENEZ – 25:59.70
KRISTIN WHITLOCK – 26:08.80
ANALEE BRADACH – 26:25.00
MELANIE RIMAWI – 26:42.50
MACKENZIE DEVINE – 27:11.60
AMBER DUFFY – 29:42.60
News & Notes
–The Runner & Rookie of the Year honors mark the first such honors for Piedmont since joining the league.
Up Next
Piedmont will travel to Mount Berry, Georgia after a week off for the NCAA South/Southeast Regionals on November 12 at Berry College.
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