Dalton State Cross Country Shines At Callaway Gardens

Pine Mountain, GA. – Dalton State runners led the way in both men’s and women’s cross country competition Saturday morning in the Panther Invitational at Callaway Gardens, hosted by LaGrange College.

For the second straight race, the Roadrunner’s Spencer Head had the best time in the men’s 8 kilometer, even after an official is said to have caused him to make an early wrong turn.

A student placed on the course to make sure runners made the correct turn was reportedly on the phone when Head passed by.

The Dalton State runner had a nice lead when he was given no direction by the distracted official and made the wrong turn. Head came back to take the individual championship and lead the Roadrunners to their second straight team championship.

The extra steps did result in a slower time than Head usually has. He ended with a 26:57.96. Shinaola Agbede of Morehouse finished second (27:11.40). Logan Stockton of the University of the South was third (27:14.78). Dalton State’s Paul Patterson (27:19.14) and Paul Schupp (27:21.84) were fourth and fifth.

The Roadrunner’s Brody Cook (27:34.30) was 7^th, Saddoth Fraire (28:05.51) was 9^th and Issac Pacheco (28:13.68 was 11^th. Jacob Robinson (28:15.12) counted in the scoring by placing 13^th.  Only the top eight runners from each team count in the team scoring. Also running were Rafael Pacheco (28:33.16) at 14^th, Dylan Smith, 16^th (28:37.24), Parker Cook, 20^th (29:08.47), William Garrett, 33^rd (30:57.26), and Lane Bramblett, 34^th (30:57.26).  

There were 51 runners and seven teams in the men’s event. Dalton State finished a strong number one with 26 points (total time of 2:17:18.75 and an average time of 27:27.75). Morehouse was second with 52 points, a total time of 2:29:31.75 and an average time of 28:06.35.

University of the South men finished third with 62 points and an average time of 28:20.19. Fourth place Auburn Montgomery had 116 points and an average of time of 30:05.53. Fifth place SCAD Atlanta had 128 points (30:31.36). Next came Clark Atlanta with 172 points (34:29.33) and finally LaGrange with 204 points (36:34.67).

“The men competed well coming off a very hard training week,” said Coach Andy Meyer. “The learned to run hard feeling less than optimal. They are training very hard at this point to prep for the conference meet.”

Dalton State’s Natalie Hensley took first place among women’s runners with a time 5 kilometer time of 20:00.40.  Coach Margie Bruner said the top Lady Roadrunners were all bunched together until the end.

“Our women’s team learned a valuable lesson about placement in a cross country meet today,” said Bruner. “We let too many Sewanne (University of the South) girls slide in between at the end.”

The University of the South’s Amy Lee (20:04.45) and Cate Hargrove (20:10.29) jumped into second and third place ahead of Dalton State’s Nayeli Jacobo (20:13.61) and Gloria Pascual (20:19.18) That was the difference between a team victory and falling in to second. Dalton’s Kuersten Gallivan finished ninth (20:52.29). Mallory Edwards was 12^th (21:07.45). Edith Corona was 20^th (22:05.00). Jessica Brock, 23^rd (22:11.67). Olivia Bird was 27^th (22:52.21).

There were 46 runners and six teams in the women’s race.

University of the South (30 points, total time 1:42:38.04, and average time 20:31.61) finished just one point better than Dalton State.

The Lady Roadrunners actually had a better team time but had 31 points on a total time of 1:42.32:93 and an average time of 20:30.59.

Auburn Montgomery from the SSAC finished third with 77 points, a total time of 1:47:41.88 and an average time of 21:32,38. SCAD Atlanta was fourth with 96 points and an average time of 22:18.66. Clark Atlanta had 131 points with an average time of 23:34.97. The hosts from LaGrange College were sixth with an average of 28:45.99.

The next Dalton State cross country will be on, Saturday, October 25^th at the Sandshark Invitational, hosted by USC Beaufort, at Hilton Head, SC.