KERNERSVILLE, NC – Florence native Luis Cedeno and Hartsville native Emma Steen led the Francis Marion University men's and women's cross country teams to ninth and 10th-place finishes at Friday evening's (Oct. 3) Spartan Classic Meet hosted by UNC Greensboro.
 
Both FMU squads will return to action on Saturday, Oct. 11, at the Sand Shark Invitational in Hardeeville, S.C., hosted by USC Beaufort.
 
Cedeno completed the 8,000-meter course in 30:19.4 to finish in 73rd position, while freshman Ethan Simpson placed 90th in a time of 32:51.7, the Sumter native's first race of the season.
 
Other Patriot runners included freshman Jaden Alexander (32:59.5) in 91st position, sophomore Grayson Hartson (33:15.7) in 93rd, junior Niclas Giessler (34:04.7) in 99th, and senior Michael James (38:55.1) in 106th place.
 
Steen posted a personal-best time of 22:44.8 over the 5,000-meter layout to finish in 56th position.  Senior Caroline Thompkins, a native of Conway, finished in 63rd place with a time of 23:20.8.
 
Other FMU finishers consisted of sophomore Rowan Hearn (23:43.2) in 67th place, sophomore Alia Turcios (23:51.6) in 68th, freshman Addison Roberts (24:29.5) in 71st, sophomore Mia Edmundson (24:46.8) in 73rd, sophomore Katelynn Roberts (26:06.9) in 81st, junior Briggs Kelly (26:19.2) in 82nd, and freshman Deyra Martinez (28:39.0) in 90th position.
 
UNCG captured the men's team title, while Wake Forest University edged Liberty University 23-32 to win the women's team championship.