FC Cross Country score at PBC Championship

By Brittney Gibely | gargoyle@flagler.edu

Flagler College men and women’s cross country teams ran in the sixth annual 8K Peach Belt Conference Championship Oct. 24.

The race took place at Luther Britt Park in Lumberton, N.C.

The men’s team placed sixth and tallied 148 points in the eight-team, 53-man field. Leading the Flagler Saints in 14th place was runner Michael Lambert. He ran a season-best with a time of 27:31.47. John Granatino also scored a season-best coming in 20th place with a time of 28:14.29.

Also placing season bests are, Richard Johnston and Derek Casciano. Johnston scored a time of 29:42.45 and finished 35th. Casciano placed 38th with a time of 30:01.16. Nate Hill placed 43rd with a score of 30:18.08 to finish off the Saint scorers.

The women’s team placed ninth with 214 points in the race. Christa Lamond led the Saints with a time of 25:17.84, while finishing in 25th place. Following in 39th place is Laura McKnight with a score of 26:23.69.

“I was nervous,” McKnight said. “But I try to channel my nerves and get pumped for the race.”

Shea Rigg placed 42nd with a time of 26:35.88. Crossing the finish line in 53rd place with a time of 27:55.60 is April Robinson. Rounding out the scorers is Madeleine Wagner with a time of 28:00.64 while placing 55th overall.

Caroline Young finished in 58th place with a time of 28:24.81, while Samantha Kunsch finished 62nd with a time of 29:24.02.

“The overall 2009 season I think went great,” Kunsch said. “It was my first season competing and I think our team is an excellent group of girls with a lot of talent and potential. I’m proud of everyone, even if some of us didn’t achieve our own personal goals; to me, we still had a successful season, and I couldn’t ask for a greater, more supportive coach.”

The final race of the season will take place at the Southeast Regional on Nov. 7, which is held in Wingate, N.C.