OAKWOOD, Ga. (Florida Sports Wire) – The No. 21 (United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Division II Top 25) Flagler College women’s cross country team won its sixth consecutive Peach Belt Conference Championship at the UNG Cross Country Course. It was Flagler’s seventh overall title since joining the PBC.
The Flagler College men’s cross country team finished in second place at the Peach Belt Conference Championship.
The Saints are one more title away from tying the record for most consecutive women’s cross country titles, which is seven by Kennesaw State University (1994-2000).
Flagler head coach Brian Beil won his sixth consecutive PBC Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year award.
“What a day,” said Beil. “A wise man once told me to never take a championship for granted. We recognize and appreciate just how challenging it is to win a championship, and then defend it. I am proud of our ladies for their entire body of work this season – in practices, the race course, and in the classroom. They are really starting to create the culture I have always hoped for, and the results are showing it.”
Flagler had 10 of its runners finish in the top 15 to earn all-conference honors, and five runners finished in the top six giving the Saints 19 points, which tied the conference record for fewest points. The University of Montevallo in 2016 had 19 points.
Amber Schulz, competing in just her second race of the season, led the 85-woman field with a 5K time of 17:32.9, to win the individual title. She is the second consecutive Flagler runner to finish in first place at the PBCs and the fourth overall (Sara Mund, 2013; Heloise Duffie de Tassigny, 2018; and Monique Whiteman, 2022).
Five Saints finished in order in spots three through seven. Megan Churchill (17:45.9) finished in third place while Monique Whiteman (17:47.3) followed. Abigail Misch (17:48.0), Enola Savel (17:48.2), and Lea Steinbach (17:50.0) completed that pack.
A trio of Saints followed in ninth through 11th places. Clemence Treguer (17:55.4), Chloe Smith (17:59.9), and Taylor Stone (18:16.0) were the runners. Marissa Kempf (18:39.8) finished in 15th place to round out the all-conference performers.
Maddi Hood (18:45.4) finished in 17th place while Mallory Robinson (19:28.9), Jessica Gates (19:34.3), Francesca Pece (19:54.9) rounded out the Flagler contingent.
The Saints return to the same course in two weeks for the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Championship Nov. 4 at 10 a.m.
“I look forward to bringing this group back in two weeks to test our strength against the region’s best,” said Beil.
Team results: 1) Flagler 19; 2) North Georgia 53; 3) Augusta 79; 4) Georgia College & State U. 103; 5) Columbus State 167; 6) Clayton State 168; 7) USC Aiken 181; 8) Lander 243; 9) USC Beaufort 254; 10) Georgia Southwestern State 310.
Top 10 finishers: 1) Amber Schulz (FLG) 17:32.9; 2) Claire Mills (UNG) 17:41.8; 3) Megan Churchill (FLG) 17:45.9; 4) Monique Whiteman (FLG) 17:47.3; 5) Abigail Misch (FLG) 17:48.0; 6) Enola Savel (FLG) 17:48.2; 7) Lea Steinbach (FLG) 17:50.0; 8) Emily McBride (UNG) 17:51.2; 9) Clemence Treguer (FLG) 17:55.4; 10) Chloe Smith (FLG) 17:59.5.
Flagler members: 1) Schulz 17:32.9; 3) Churchill 17:45.9; 4) Whiteman 17:47.3; 5) Misch 17:48.0; 6) Savel 17:48.2; 7) Steinbach 17:50.0; 9) Treguer 17:55.4; 10) Smith 17:59.5; 11) Stone 18:16.0; 15) Kempf 18:39.8; 17) Hood 18:45.4; 33) Robinson 19:28.9; 36) Gates 19:34.3; 40) Pece 19:54.9.
“I can’t say it enough, but I am proud of these guys,” said Beil said. “These same young men got swept by Augusta University a year ago. Their response to that was shown in their work over the past 12 months. It has been one of the most enjoyable experiences in my coaching career. They are a close group. They support each other and they work hard.”
Joel Nesi led a pack of three Saints with an 8K time of 25:17.1, which was good for a fourth place finish. Jon Eide (25:19.4) and Will Stone (25:21.0) followed Nesi in fifth and sixth places.
Four more Flagler runners finished in the top 15 to join Nesi, Eide, and Stone on the all-conference team. Christian Fernandez (25:25.6) finished in eighth place while Ethan Tank finished in 11th place with a time of 25:43.0. Francisco Ramirez (25:49.6) and Logan Seifert (25:56.7) finished in 13th and 15th places, respectively.
Brandon Knieja (26:21.9), Dieumerci Ufitimana (26:25.5), A’Jani Stokes (26:27.4), Kaleb Hollins (26:58.7), Adrian Abercrombie (27:05.1), Max Bowlin (27:10.2); Logan Burch (27:34.2), and John Carbone (30:00.6) all competed for the Saints.
Brandon Martin of Augusta University won the individual title as he led the 87-man field with a time of 24:37.5.
Augusta won its fifth consecutive PBC title as it had all five point scorers finish in the top nine for 22 points.
Flagler heads back to Oakwood, Georgia in two weeks for the NCAA Division II Southeast Region Championship on Nov. 4 at 11:15 a.m.
“I like where we are at right now,” said Beil. “In two weeks, we will have our hands full with some great teams in our region. We are looking forward to the challenge.”
Team results: 1) Augusta 22; 2) Flagler 34; 3) Columbus State 102; 4) Georgia College & State U. 115; 5) Clayton State 168; 6) Lander 174; 7) USC Aiken 200; 8) USC Beaufort 205; 9) Georgia Southwestern State 286.
Top 10 finishers: 1) Brandon Martin (AUG) 24:37.5; 2) Avery Jaynes (AUG) 25:04.4; 3) Carlos Rodriguez (AUG) 25:14.6; 4) Joel Nesi (FLG) 25:17.1; 5) Jon Eide (FLG) 25:19.4; 6) Will Stone (FLG) 25:21.0; 7) Patrick Motes (AUG) 25:22.4; 8) Christian Fernandez (FLG) 25:25.6; 9) Thomas Rischar (AUG) 25:25.8; 10) Jordan Robertson (AUG) 25:36.8.
Flagler members: 4) Nesi 25:17.1; 5) Eide 25:19.4; 6) Stone 25:21.0; 8) Fernandez 25:25.6; 11) Tank 25:43.0; 13) Ramirez 25:49.6; 15) Seifert 25:56.7; 21) Knieja 26:21.9; 22) Ufitimana 26:25.5; 24) Stokes 26:27.4; 28) Hollins 26:58.7; 32) Abercrombie 27:05.1; 33) Bowlin 27:10.2; 39) Burch 27:34.2; 64) Carbone 30:00.6.
