CHARLOTTE, NC – Led by junior 
Caroline Thompkins and freshman 
Ethan Hickey, the Francis Marion University women's and men's cross country teams placed 11th and 12th respectively at the 2023 Conference Carolinas Championship Meet, held Saturday morning (Oct. 21) at McAlpine Creek Park in Charlotte.
 
Thompkins finished 47th in the 6,000-meter women's race with a personal-best time of 25:56.2.  She was followed by freshman 
Emily Gaines with a time of 27:37.5 and in 62nd position.  Other Patriot runners were freshman 
Jordyn Perry (27:52.6) in 65th place, sophomore 
MacKinley Perry (personal-best 27:59.4) in 68th, freshman 
Meri Ellen Johnson (28:31.8) in 71st, and freshman 
Leigh Detalo (28:47.0) in 73rd position.
 
Converse, which recorded five of the top 11 finishers, easily won the women's team title.
 
Hickey, a native of Hartsville, placed 87th as he completed the 8,000-meter men's course in a time of 28:36.2.  Sophomore 
Zachary Patrick was the next FMU finisher as was 97th with a time of 29:22.6 and senior 
Cullen Dore was 100th in a time of 29:34.7.
 
Other Francis Marion runners were freshman 
Charlie Hall (29:50.8) in 104th position, junior 
Tyson Jackson (30:01.3) in 106th, freshman 
C.J. Applegate (personal-best 33:17.3) in 121st, and junior 
Michael James (37:26.8) in 126th place.
 
UNC Pembroke edged Belmont Abbey College, 57-70, for the men's team championship.
 
Jackson and the Perry sisters are all graduates of West Florence High School, while Detalo is a product of Wilson High School.
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