Patriots Finish 5th and 8th at 2003 PBC Championships
October 25, 2003 - 

Patriots Finish 5th and 8th at 2003 PBC Championships

PANTHERSVILLE, GA – The Francis Marion University men’s and women’s cross country teams placed fifth and eighth in their respective races at the 12th Peach Belt Conference Championship Meet, Saturday morning (Oct. 25).

Kennesaw State University, behind individual winner Joseph Mutai, won the men’s team title with 20 points, the second-lowest total in PBC history.  Clayton College & State University was second with 56 points, followed by the University of North Florida (65), USC Spartanburg (128), FMU (131), UNC Pembroke (167), Columbus State University (172), and Georgia College & State University (208). Kennesaw State captured its third consecutive PBC crown and eighth in nine years.

Sophomore Ezekiel Koech led the Patriot men with a 17th-place showing, as he completed the 8,000-meter course in 27:16.  FMU junior Ryan Plexico was 19th in 27:37.  Other FMU runners were Steven Creek in 22nd place (28:15), Bobby Sears in 32nd (29:46), and Graham Foster in 41st (31:20).

North Florida’s Romy Krueger captured the women’s individual title, finishing the 5,000-meter race in 17:25.  The Lady Ospreys placed all five runners in the top ten to claim their second-ever championship.  UNF easily defeated second-place Kennesaw State 24-45, with the 24 points establishing a new Peach Belt record for fewest points in a championship meet. Clayton State was third (73 points), followed by Lander (151), GC&SU (159), Columbus State (161), USCS (210), Francis Marion (221), USC Aiken (222), UNCP (258), and Augusta State University (295).  The Patriot women posted their highest finish in three years.

FMU sophomore Nicole Hoeppner placed 18th in a time of 19:39, her fourth sub-20:00 time this season.  That had previously been done only five times in the history of the program.

Freshmen Erica Woo (21:02) and Megan Coy (21:42) finished 33rd and 38th respectively, with Woo’s time being a career-best.  FMU senior Erin Flury equaled her career-best time of 25:20 and was 65th, followed by freshman Jenna Sexton in 67th (26:00).

For the first time in the history of the Peach Belt Conference, two coaches shared the women’s “Coach of the Year” award. Lander’s Bob Stoner, who guided the Bearcats to their highest finish since 1996, and North Florida’s Mark Van Alstyne were named “Co-Coaches of the Year.”   KSU’s Stan Sims earned his second consecutive men’s “Coach of the Year” honor.  He has won five men’s “Coach of the Year” honors and six women’s awards.

Peach Belt Conference Men's Cross Country Final Team Results

1. Kennesaw State 20 (1,3,4,5,7)
2. Clayton State 56 (6,8,10,12, 20)
3. North Florida 65 (2,11,15,16,21)
4. USC Spartanburg 128 (14,23,27,30,34)
5. Francis Marion 131 (17,19,22,32,41)
6. UNC Pembroke 167 (25,31,35,36,40)
7. Columbus State 172 (13,28,37,46,48)
8. GC&SU 208 (33,39,44,45,47)

 Peach Belt Conference Women's Cross Country Final Team Results

1. North Florida 24 (1,2,4,8,9)
2. Kennesaw State 45 (3,5,7,14,16)
3. Clayton State 73 (6,10,11,20,26)
4. Lander 151 (21,25,31,34,40)
5. GC&SU 159 (22,24,32,35,46)
6. Columbus State 161 (13,23,30,43,52)
7. USC Spartanburg 210 (28,37,44,50,51)
8. Francis Marion 221 (18,33,38,65,67)
9. USC Aiken 222 (18,33,38,65,67)
10. UNC Pembroke 258 (41,45,47,59,66)
11. Augusta State 295 (49,53,62,63,68)
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