Results

LUMBERTON, N.C.  – The Flagler College men's cross country team finished in second place at the Peach Belt Conference Championship held Saturday morning at Luther Britt Park.

Marcus Graham led the Flagler contingent with his fourth place finish as he completed the 8K course at 25:07.75. Connor Norton (26:00.92) and Asad Bashir (26:13.32) finished in 11^th and 12^th places, respectively. Bashir was the top freshman finisher in the field and took home PBC Freshman of the Year honors.

"I am extremely proud of the way our men attacked the race today," said head coach Brian Beil. "We knew coming in that Augusta was going to be a very tough team to beat, but we wanted to make sure we gave ourselves that chance. From top to bottom we did just that. Although it didn't go as well as we would have hoped, the guys ran a tremendous race and took another step forward."

Augusta University finished in first place with 29 points as it had seven runners finish in the top 10.

Heading up the 90-man field was Joshua Chepkesir of UNC Pembroke who defended his title with a time of 23:48.04. He finished over one minute ahead of teammate Silus Kipkoech (24:53.76).

Evan Fuller (26:24.12) and Justin Greene (26:28.90) both earned all-conference honors despite finishing outside of the top 15 (Nos. 16 and 17). Augusta placed nine runners in the top 15, but can only have seven all-conference runners by league rule. Joel Nesi (26:34.22) finished in 18th place. Hunter Ingle (27:40.70) finished in 30^th place while Anthony Whelan (28:13.45) finished in 39^th place. Michael Hayeck (29:4.77) and John Decker (30:36.97) rounded out the Saints.

Up next for Flagler is the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Nov. 9 at Wingate, North Carolina.

Team results: 2) Augusta 29; 2) Flagler  56; 3) UNC Pembroke 67; 5) Columbus State 104; 5) Georgia College 123; 6) Clayton State 188; 7) Francis Marion 222; 8) Lander 240; 9) Young Harris 266; 10) USC Aiken 289; 11) Georgia Southwestern 339.

Top 10 finishers: 1) Joshua Chepkesir (UNCP) 23:48.04; 2) Silus Kipkoech (UNCP) 24:53.76; 3) Jacob Poston (AU) 24:56.05; 4) Marcus Graham (FLG) 25:07.75; 5) Chase Kennedy (AUG) 25:09.69; 6) Chandler Kennedy (AUG) 25:24.31; 7) Hunter Kimball (AUG) 25:25.90; 8) Jacob Burgamy (AUG) 25:31.12; 9) Kai Brickey (AUG) 25:53.94; 10) Hans Troyer (AUG) 25:59.74.

Flagler members: 4) Graham 25:07.75; 11) Norton 26:00.92; 12) Bashir 26:13.32; 16) Fuller 26:24.12; 17) Greene 26:28.90; 18) Nesi 26:34.22; 30) Ingle 27:40.70; 39) Whelan 28:13.45; 52) Hayeck 29:34.77; 58) Decker 30:36.97.



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