OAKWOOD, Ga. — For the second consecutive race, the Flagler College women's cross country team claimed first-place honors with multiple Saints finishing in the top five Saturday morning at the University of North Georgia's Peach Belt Conference Preview.
 
Flagler edged the host team UNG by three points as the Saints had 32 and the Nighthawks were at 35. The trio of Saints in the top five — Jessie Mescal, Malia Cryan and Allison Horwitch — all finished with a new personal-best time to give the Saints the advantage on the course they will see again in just two weeks. Of six runners, five Saints raced for new PRs.
 
"The ladies ran well today," Flagler College head cross country coach Brian Beil said. "We took a few lumps mid-race that hurt our result a bit, but with luck it's nothing serious and we'll be healthy for the championship in two weeks. Our two goals were to take another step forward with our results, which we were able to do, and to get a good look at the championship course. We're excited to come back in two weeks and see this beautiful course when it's fully prepped for PBC's."
 
The first to get her new PR was Mescal as she crossed in second place with a time of 18:18.0. Just behind her was Cryan (18:24.5) at third while Horwitch (18:33.8) followed for a fifth-place finish. Megan Churchill joined the PR gang with a new clocked finish (19:05.9), good for 11th. Next, was Sam Gayton (19:30.7) in 16th as Madison Peele (19:46.3) was on her heels for 17th and a new PR for the sophomore.
 
"UNG did a fantastic job with this meet," Beil said. "The campus hasn't had power since the hurricane rolled through, but you wouldn't have known it out there today. No matter the hurdles we might have between now and the championship, it's obvious to me that UNG is well prepared to host it."

Team scores in order: Flagler (32), UNG (35), Clayton State University (103), Piedmont College (109), Bryan College (127), Georgia Southwestern (137), Young Harris College (165)
 
Top 10 individuals in order: Mackenzie Taylor (17:05.1), Augusta; Jessie Mescal (18:18.0) Flagler; Malia Cryan (18:24.5), Flagler; Sydney Bolyard (18:28.0), UNG; Allison Horwitch (18:33.8), Flagler; Karem LeRoy (18:35.6), UNG; Na'ilah Allen (18:40.4), Clayton State; Claire Mills (18:45.4), UNG; Sarah Welch (18:56.0), Bryan; Mariah Millsap (19:04.3), UNG.
 
Up Next: The women will be back on this same course for the PBC Championships Saturday, November 14.

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