CLINTON, SC – Led by junior Patrick Hopewell, the Francis Marion University men's cross country team place fourth at the Blue Hose Invitational Meet, hosted by Presbyterian College on Friday afternoon (Sept. 30).  The FMU women had only three finishers and did not score as a team.

Spartanburg Methodist College won the men's team title, while Lander University captured the women's team championship.

In the men's 8,000-meter race, Spartanburg Methodist scored 43 points, followed North Greenville College (83), Presbyterian (96), FMU (102), Southern Wesleyan University (136), Limestone College (146), and Erskine College (148).

Hopewell finished eighth with a time of 28:29.59.  Other Francis Marion finishers were Steven Holmes in 12th (28:48.25), Ariel Ortiz in 24th (30:09.12), Dan Brann in 25th (30:10.01), and Joshua Sears in 36th (30:38.11).

SMC's Griffin Cole placed first with a time of 27:34.04.

Francis Marion's Kelly May placed third in the women's 5,000-meter event with a career-best time of 20:05.90.  Other Patriots runners included Megan Coy in 40th (22:37.12) and Sara Parry in 71st (29:37.49).

Lander's Ivana Petrovic captured the women's individual title as she set a course record with her time of 18:58.85.  Lander edged Southern Wesleyan for the team title by one point, 37-38.

Both Francis Marion squads will compete in the Erskine College Invitational Meet, Oct. 13 at 4 p.m. in Due West, S.C.