Results

OAKWOOD, Ga. – The Flagler College women's cross country won their third consecutive Peach Belt Conference Championship title, and fourth all-time, Saturday morning at the University of North Georgia-Gainesville course.

Flagler won by the slimmest of margins. The University of North Georgia and Flagler tied with 49 points. It was the first time in the 30-year history of the championship that a tiebreaker needed to be utilized. To break the tie, they took the average scores of both team's top five runners. Flagler was nine-tenths of a second faster than North Georgia.

Jessie Mescal led the Saints with a 5K time of 18:27.2, which was good for a fourth place finish. Malia Cryan followed in fifth place at 18:34.3. Mescal earned her third all-conference honor while Cryan picked up her second all-league accolade.

"What a day," said Brian Beil who received his third consecutive PBC Coach of the Year award. "If I didn't have any gray hairs before today, I have them now. North Georgia is a strong team running on their home course. We knew today would come down to the wire. I am very proud of our ladies, specifically Maria Puccio-Ball. She had herself a day! Maria came through clutch when we needed her the most in her last collegiate race."

With 800 meters to go in the race, Puccio-Ball trailed three North Georgia runners. With encouragement from Coach Beil, and a slight nod of her head in acknowledgement, she made her move and passed all three and held that lead through the finish line. Puccio-Ball's move proved to be a six-point swing that put Flagler in the position of at least tying. She was 18th at the first checkpoint (1.7km) and then 16th at the second check (3.4km).   

"Between Maria and Allison (Horwitch), we will be losing a tremendous pair of seniors. I can't think of a better send-off than the closest ever contested PBC championship," added Beil.   

UNC Pembroke (83) and Augusta University (111) finished third and fourth, respectively.

Mackenzie Taylor of Augusta University topped the field with a time of 17:07.9. Na'ilah Allen (18:02.6) of Clayton State University finished in second place.

Allison Horwitch (19:03.7) and Maria Puccio-Ball (19:04.1) finished 11^th and 12^th. For Puccio-Ball, her time was a career-best. Megan Churchill posted a time of 19:15.5 to finish in 17^th place. Madison Peele (19:47.1) and Sam Gayton (20:04.3) rounded out the Saints.

NOTE: Gayton was selected to the all-sportsmanship team.
 
Team results: 1) Flagler 49; 2) North Georgia 49; 3) UNC Pembroke 87; 4) Augusta 89; 5) Columbus State 114; 6) Clayton State 155; 7) Georgia Southwestern 186; 8) USC Aiken 206.  
 
Top 10 finishers: 1) Mackenzie Taylor (AUG) 17:07.9; 2) Na'ilah Allen (CLY) 18:02.6; 3) Alli Hay (CSU) 18:14.7; 4) Jessie Mescal (FLG) 18:27.2; 5) Malia Cryan (FLG) 18:34.3; 6) Claire Mills (UNG) 18:43.0; 7) Sydney Bolyard (UNG) 18:43.5; 8) Karmen LeRoy (UNG) 18:44.3; 9) Valary Samoei (UNCP) 18:45.8; 10) Kathryn Anderson (UNCP) 18:48.7.
 
Flagler members: 4) Mescal 18:27.2; 5) Cryan 18:34.3; 11) Horwitch 19:03.7; 12) Puccio-Ball 19:04.1; 17) Churchill 19:15.5; 22) Peele 19:47.1; 26) Gayton 20:04.3.


Be the first to know what's going on with the Saints -- Follow @FlaglerSports on Twitter, follow FlaglerSports on Instagram, become a fan of Flagler College Athletics on Facebook and subscribe to the Flagler College Athletics e-newsletter to receive the latest news, schedule updates and to interact with Flagler Athletics.