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.