CONWAY, SC – A pair of Grand Strand area products led the Francis Marion University men's and women's cross country teams as the Patriots finished fifth and fourth respectively at the Chanticleer Challenge meet, hosted by Coastal Carolina University on Friday evening (Sept. 29).
 
Conway product Caroline Thompkins paced the FMU women, as she placed 32nd in the 5,000-meter race with a time of 22:50.2.  Four Patriot freshmen registered personal-best times for the 5k length at the collegiate level: Jordyn Perry (23:12.9), Emily Gaines (23:13.7), Leigh Detalo (24:30.4), and Meri Ellen Johnson (25:15.2). 
 
Perry placed 33rd, followed by Gaines in 34th, sophomore MacKinley Perry (23:22.6) in 35th, Detalo in 37th, Johnson in 38th, and sophomore Briggs Kelly (27:14.4) in 39th position.  The Perry sisters graduated from West Florence High School, while Detalo is a product of Wilson High School.
 
CCU edged UNC Wilmington for the women's team crown, 22-37.
 
Senior Cullen Dore, a product of Carolina Forest High School, led the Patriot men as he finished 29th in the 8,000-meter race with a time of 28:57.3. 
 
Sophomore Zachary Patrick placed 33rd in a time of 30:10.6, while other FMU finishers were junior Tyson Jackson (31:04.9) in 34th position, freshman Barry Hardy (31:17.4) in 35th, freshman Ethan Hickey (32:17.2) in 36th, and freshman C.J. Applegate (36:59.3) in 37th place.
 
CCU also beat out UNCW for the men's team title by a 32-40 margin.
 
Both Francis Marion teams will next run in the Royals Challenge, hosted by Queens University of Charlotte, on Oct. 6 at 3:30 p.m.