Results

LUMBERTON, N.C. – The Flagler College women's cross country team defended their Peach Belt Conference Championship title Saturday morning at Luther Britt Park. The Saints had six runners finish in the top 15 and tallied 40 points.

Malia Cryan was the top finisher for Flagler as she was the runner-up in the 105-woman field with a time of 18:48.41 over the 5K course. Kayla McManama finished in fourth place with a time of 18:54.01. Lindsey Williams made it a triumvirate of Flagler runners in the top 10 with her seventh place finish with a career-best time of 19:07.75.

"This was the best team effort we have had all season," said head coach Brian Beil. "Every week the ladies have been closing the gap up front and today was another great step towards our long-term goals. I am extremely proud of this group for the way they have worked all year. It is especially nice to see them coming into their own after losing three of our program's strongest runners to graduation last year."  

Jessie Mescal (19:25.32), Allison Horwitch (19:26.69), and Faith Mark (19:30.81) all finished in a tight group at Nos. 13-15 to earn all-conference honors along with their teammates in the top 10.

Beil was named the PBC Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season.

"I am honored to receive the recognition from my peers," said Beil. "Most of the credit for this award goes to the ladies doing all of the work and the rest goes to my assistant coach Kaitlin Rodriguez. She has been breaking her back for this program since graduating from Flagler in 2017."

Flagler edged out the University of North Georgia (49 pts.) to win its third PBC title (2013, 2018). The Nighthawks had four runners finish in the top 11.

Micah Weathers of Augusta University topped the field with a time of 18:03.22.

Flagler's Lucie Kammer (19:37.69) and Maria Puccio-Ball (19:37.85) finished Nos. 20 and 21, respectively. Madison Peele (20:02.99) finished in the 28^th place while Reagan Bush posted a time of 20:24.6 to finish in 33^rd place. Anastasia Denisova (20:49.41) finished in 43^rd place. Hannah Gatland (21:10.57) and Abigayle Weinfeld (21:42.56) rounded out the Saints team.

The NCAA Division II Southeast Regional on Nov. 9 at Wingate, North Carolina awaits the Saints.
 
Team results: 1) Flagler 40; 2) North Georgia 49; 3) Augusta 79; 4) Columbus State 111; 5) UNC Pembroke 114; 6) Georgia College 166; 7) Georgia Southwestern 224; 8) Francis Marion 256; 9) Lander 266; 10) Clayton State 274; 11) Young Harris 320; 12) USC Aiken 341.  
 
Top 10 finishers: 1) Micah Weathers (AUG) 18:03.3; 2) Malia Cryan (FLG) 18:48.5; 3) Erman Jepleting (UNCP) 18:51.9; 4) Kayla McManama (FLG) 18:54.1; 5) Brenna Hammond (UNG) 19:00.6; 6) Aleah Johnson (UNG) 19:03.8; 7) Lindsey Williams (FLG) 19:07.8; 8) McKenzie Knudsen (AU) 19:09.2; 9) Miranda Taylor (AUG) 19:12.3; 10) Karmen Leroy (UNG) 19:19.9.
 
Flagler members: 2) Cryan 18:48.41; 4) McManama 18:54.01; 7) Williams 19:07.75; 13) Mescal 19:25.32; 14) Horwitch 19:26.69; 15) Mark 19:30.81; 20) Kammer 19:37.69; 21) Puccio-Ball 19:37.85; 28) Peele 20:02.99; 33) Bush 20:24.54; 43) Denisova 20:49.41; 47) Gatland 21:10.57; 59) Weinfeld 21:42.56.



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