COLUMBIA, SC – The Francis Marion University men's and women's cross country teams placed third and fourth respectively at the season-opening Carolina Challenge, Saturday morning (Sept. 3) in Columbia.

The two 5,000-meters races were held at the Sandhills Research and Education Center.

In the NCAA Division II men's race, Queens University of Charlotte captured the team title with a 32 score followed by Wingate University (45), Francis Marion (80), Newberry College (97), Benedict College (101), Paine College (189), and Claflin University (194).

Sophomore Carlos Oliver led the FMU men with a seventh-place finish in a time of 16:29.43.  Juniors Javier Bustos Jaimes (17:02.90), Jonathon Reid (17:23.82), and Devin Nelson (17:41.67) finished 11th, 16th, and 19th respectively.

Patriot freshman Ivan Henderson (18:31.32) placed 27th in his first collegiate race, followed by sophomore Brandon Boggs (19:28.37) in 32nd, senior Aaron Robinson (19:49.32) in 33rd, sophomore Ben Bigelow (20:03.32) in 38th, sophomore Robert Hahn (20:48.76) in 39th, and senior Jeremiah Hayes (21:09.29) in 41st.

In the women's race, Queens again edged out Wingate 20-35, followed by Newberry (110), FMU (127), Paine (130), Benedict (142), and Claflin (173).

A pair of freshman runners led Francis Marion in the women's race.  Emma Driggers placed 14th in a time of 21:28.15, while Alexis Byers was 20th in 22:50.02.  Junior MacKenzie Arnold (23:22.96) finished 24th, followed by sophomore Gabrielle Gosnell (25:22.12) in 32nd, senior Nicole Edlmann (26:24.08) in 37th, freshman Jasmine Watson (30:16.79) in 44th, and Emmeline Wheeler (36:39.48) in 45th position.

Freshman standout Alison Filer missed the race due to an illness.

Both Francis Marion squads will run in the Barton College Invitational Meet on Friday at 6 p.m.