CHARLOTTE, NC – The Francis Marion University women's and men's cross country teams placed 15th and 17th respectively, Friday (Oct. 6) at the Royals Cross Country Challenge.  The meet was hosted by Queens University of Charlotte at McAlpine Creek Park.
 
The Patriots will compete in the Conference Carolinas Championship Meet, Oct. 21, at the same course in Charlotte.
 
Freshman Ethan Hickey, a product of Hartsville High School, led the Patriot men with a 70th place showing in a time of 29:22.77 over the 8,000-meter course.  Sophomore Zachary Patrick finished in 79th position with a time of 29:48.44.
 
Senior Cullen Dore finished 87th with a time of 30:10.49, while other Patriot runners were junior Tyson Jackson (33:08.78) in 159th position, freshman C.J. Applegate (personal-best 35:01.86) in 181st place, and junior Michael James (40:08.73) in 201st position.
 
Milligan University easily captured the men's team title, outdistancing second-place Georgia College by a 44-100 margin.
 
Junior Caroline Thompkins again led the FMU women, as she placed 62nd in the 5,000-meter race with a time of 21:59.59.  Sophomore MacKinley Perry (23:19.34) and her sister, freshman Jordyn Perry (23:24.20), finished 91st and 93rd respectively. The Perry sisters graduated from West Florence High School.
 
Patriot freshman Emily Gaines (23:41.26) placed 103rd, while freshman Leigh Detalo – a product of Wilson High School – set a personal-best time of 24:04.96 to place 111th.  Freshman Meri Ellen Johnson also set a new personal best (24:09.10) and finished 112th, while sophomore Briggs Kelly (24:21.41) finished 120th. 
 
Converse University recorded the first six finishers to capture the team title with a perfect score of 15.