HARDEEVILLE, SC – Eleven different Francis Marion University runners registered personal-best times for their respective distances as the Patriot women's and men's cross country teams placed 9th and 13th at the Sand Shark Invitational Meet, Saturday morning (Oct. 11) in Hardeeville, S.C.
 
Both Francis Marion teams will compete at the Conference Carolinas Championship Meet on Friday, Oct. 24, beginning at 3 p.m. in Kernersville, N.C.
 
Sophomore Emma Steen, a native of Hartsville, led the Patriot women as she finished in 50th position with a personal-best time of 21:01.1 for the 5,000-meter event.  Senior Caroline Thompkins, a native of Conway, placed 62nd in a time of 21:28.7.
 
Sophomore Alia Turcios finished 72nd with a time of 22:56.2, while other Patriots finishers were sophomore Rowan Hearn (23:00.9) in 73rd place, sophomore Katelynn Roberts (personal-best time of 23:12.8) in 76th, sophomore Mia Edmundson (PR 23:34.1) in 83rd, freshman Deyra Martinez (PR 25:31.9) in 91st, and junior Briggs Kelly (25:46.6) in 92nd.
 
Freshman Jaden Alexander was the first FMU men's runner to finish as he bettered his best 8,000-meter time to 28:47.2 and finished in 64th position.  West Florence High School product and Patriot freshman Luis Cedeno placed 70th and also set a new personal-best time for 8K at 29:11.8.
 
Other Patriot runners included sophomore Dominic Rigoni (PR 30:15.5) in 83rd position, freshman Ethan Simpson (PR 30:50.2) in 90th, sophomore Grayson Hartson (PR 31:30.7) in 97th, sophomore Niclas Giessler (PR 33:06.2) in 103rd, senior Michael James (PR 35:00.3) in 107th, and junior Charlie Hall (37:15.0) in 109th place.
 
Georgia Southern University won the women's team title, while Southeastern University edged Bethune-Cookman University for the men's team championship.