VALDOSTA, Ga. - In their 2026 season opener, the Flagler College men's cross country team placed second overall at the Valdosta State University Border Clash, hosted at Freedom Park, this evening. Freshman Cole Swesey was the Saints top finisher, placing sixth overall in 25:41.3.

SAINTS FINISHERS
6. Cole Swesey - 25:41.3
7. Jack Waters - 25:45.3
8. Kenneth Folkenroth - 25:56.1
10. Miles Nutt - 26:22.3
15. Christopher Falkowski - 27:29.5
23. Kalb Atkins - 28:58.1

TURNING POINT
In the first race of the season, Flagler finished second out of seven. Accumulating 43 points, the Saints' trailed host institute, Valdosta State's 15 points. With a lineup consisting of underclassmen, Cole Swesey and Jack Waters finished second and first for the Saints. Kenneth Folkenroth rounded out the Saints top three, placing eighth overall. Outside of the Blazers, Flagler's competition consisted of institues such as Andrew College, Georgia Southwestern University and Enterprise State Community College.

KEY STATS & NOTES

• Four of the six Saints competing were freshman.
• Jack Waters has competed in the VSU Border Clash in each of his two years as a Saint. Through his two races, Waters has finished in the top-10, finishing as the individual champion last year.
• Since 2021 Flagler has finished second at the VSU Border Clash three times and won the meet once in 2025.
• Cole Swesey's sixth place finish is tied for the second highest finish in program history. Swesey tied Fransico Ramirez's '22 and '22 finish.
• Flagler accumulated 43 points as their top four runners finished in the top-10.

UP NEXT
Flagler will head to Tallahassee, Florida for the FSU Pre-Regional on Sept. 18 at the Apalachee Regional Park.

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