Oakwood, GA. – The Dalton State men’s cross country team successfully defended its North Georgia Invitational Championship Saturday morning at the University of North Georgia’s course near Gainesville.
Roadrunner junior Spencer Head (25:26) broke the course 8 K record by 28 seconds in winning the individual crown. He had set the record last year with a time of 25:54. Sidney Speir, running unattached, was second at 26:18.8. Dalton State junior Paul Patterson (26:25.3) was third overall, but second as a member of a team.
Paul Schupp (26:36.9) was sixth, Brody Cook (26:48.6) was 10th, Parker Cook (27:37.9) finished 23rd, Dylan Smith (27:45.5) was 30th, Cole Thornton (27:46.8) finished 32nd, Jacob Robinson (29:04.1) and Saddoth Fraire (29:21.8).
There were 79 total runners.
“To beat all of the (NCAA) D-2 teams and win the Peach Belt Conference preconference championship meet is a testament to all of the hard work, character and dedication these kids exhibit daily,” said Coach Andy Meyer. “While this is great, our main focus remains to be the conference championship. We have a hard road ahead.”
Dalton State’s 42 was ten points better than second place University of North Carolina Pembroke’s 52. Columbus State (105) was third. Berry (120 ) finished fourth. Georgia Regents University Augusta was fifth at 129. Clayton State (189) finished sixth. Young Harris (220) finished seventh. West Georgia (244) was eighth.
Francis Marion (250) was ninth. Reinhardt rounded out the top ten with 267 points.
The remainder of the 16-team men’s field were Shorter (274), SCAD Atlanta (335), Covenant College (346), Clark Atlanta (425), LaGrange (447) and Gordon College (487).