The Piedmont College men’s cross country team concluded the 2016 regular season Saturday with one final school record performance with a team average time of 27:59.22 at the Berry College Invitational. Piedmont finished 12th of 19 teams in the event finishing as the top USA South team with the USA South Championships next on the schedule.
The Lions were led by freshman standout NATHAN GALLOWAY who was just three seconds off his best time of the season with a 27:30.10. Galloway was 45th overall in the meet and just three places and seven seconds behind the top USA South finisher, Daniel Beckett of Maryville.
CODY PARKER ran a personal best time of 27:43.44, marking his first PR since his sophomore season when he ran a 27:50 at the Greensboro Invitational in September 2014. BRYCE GRIGGS finished third for Piedmont running a 28:05.81 with JOHNATHON QUINN just two seconds off Griggs’ time with a 28:07.48. For Griggs, his time marks his personal best of the season shaving off 16 seconds from his 8k time at the Greater Louisville Classic.
JARROD HOWELL was the fifth across the line for Piedmont posting a 28:29.25, a personal best for the sophomore.ANDREW GALE was once again Piedmont’s #6 as he too had a personal best time of 28:57.92, 26 seconds better than his time at the Greater Louisville Classic and the first time the freshman has broken 29:00.
DEWAYNE CAGLE, CONLEY WILHELM and CORY MCCLUNG all finished in a close pack with Cagle leading the way with a 29:13.15, Wilhelm recorded a 29:28.83 and McClung run a 29:43.79. WILLIAM FOSTER was just off that group running a 30:31.34 while NATHAN CREWS posted a 31:38.81.
Standout Performances
–Senior CODY PARKER had a personal best time of 27:43.44 giving the senior a PR in his final regular season race of his career.
Inside the Numbers
–Piedmont opened the season at the Berry College Watermelon Run averaging 29:44.39 as a team, taking a full 1:45 off the team average with the school record of 27:59.22 Saturday.
Complete Piedmont Results
NATHAN GALLOWAY – 27:30.10
CODY PARKER – 27:43.44
BRYCE GRIGGS – 28:05.81
JOHNATHON QUINN – 28:07.48
JARROD HOWELL – 28:29.25
ANDREW GALE – 28:57.92
DEWAYNE CAGLE – 29:13.35
CONLEY WILHELM – 29:28.83
CORY MCCLUNG – 29:43.79
WILLIAM FOSTER – 30:31.34
NATHAN CREWS – 31:38.81
News & Notes
-This is the second time the Lions have run at Berry College with the third and final time coming at the NCAA South/Southeast Regional Meet on November 12.
Up Next
Piedmont will host the 2016 USA South Cross Country Championships after a weekend off on Saturday, October 29 at the TFS Farm Course in Tallulah Falls, Georgia.
How to Follow
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