FLORENCE, S.C. – The North Greenville College men and the Lander University women claimed wins at the 17th-annual Francis Marion University Invitational Cross Country Meet, Saturday morning (Sept. 24) in Florence.

Lander's Ivana Petrovic took individual honors in the 5,000-meter women's race as she posted a time of 19:29, more than a full minute ahead of second-place finisher Alex Bonn (20:38) of Limestone College.  FMU freshman Kelly May finished third with a time of 20:56.

Petrovic paced five Bearcat runners who all placed in the Top 10, as Lander scored 28 points.  Presbyterian College was second with 55 points, followed by North Greenville (79), FMU (103), and Morris College and Limestone tied for fifth with 127 points.

Presbyterian's Matthew Elliott was the top finisher in the 4.57-mile men's event.  He finished the course in 24:42, while Limestone's Brent Clausing was second (25:33).  Junior Patrick Hopewell was Francis Marion's top finisher as he placed fifth with a time of 26:13.

North Greenville had four runners among the top nine finishers and scored 37 points to defeat Presbyterian (43), Francis Marion (65), and Limestone (74).

Both Francis Marion squads will compete in Presbyterian's Blue Hose Invitational  Meet, Friday at 4 p.m. in Clinton, S.C.

Sunny, Humid, 80 degrees

17th-annual FMU Invitational Cross Country Meet

Women's 5,000-meter Race                                               

Finish , Adjusted Finish                           Time

3.   3.    Kelly May (FMU)                             20:55.75

13. 13.  Ashley Harris (PC)                         22:42.57

14. 14.  Renee Guilliams (FMU)               22:51.40

17. 17.  Megan Coy (FMU)                         23:19.08

33. 33.  Sandra Calhoon (FMU)                28:18.71

36. 36.  Sara Parry (FMU)                           29:43.59

WOMEN'S TEAM SCORES

1.  Lander University                       28

2.  Presbyterian College                 55

3.  North Greenville College          79

4.  Francis Marion University         103

5.  Morris College                             127

5.  Limestone College                     127

Men's 4.57 miles Race

Finish , Adjusted Finish                           Time

5.   5.  Patrick Hopewell (FMU)                  26:12.44

10. 10. Steven Holmes (FMU)                   27:21.33

14. 14.  Dan Brann (FMU)                          28:01.26

16. 16.  Ariel Ortiz (FMU)                            28:46.75

18. 17.  Kyle Shy (Limestone)                   29:21.69

22. 21.  CJ Kozlowski (Limestone)           30:10.58

MEN'S TEAM SCORES

1.  North Greenville College          37

2.  Presbyterian College                 43

3.  Francis Marion University         65

4.  Limestone College                     74

5.  Morris College                             Did Not Score