CHARLOTTE, NC – The Francis Marion University women's and men's cross country teams opened their 2025 seasons by placing 20th and 21st respectively at the Queen City Invite Meet, Friday evening (Sept. 12) in Charlotte.
 
Both Francis Marion squads will compete in the Bulldog Stampede Meet on Saturday, Sept. 20, in Wingate, N.C.  The women's race will start at 8 a.m., followed by the men's event at 8:45 a.m.
 
In the women's 5,000-meter race, sophomore Emma Steen led the FMU finishers by placing 189th in the large field with a time of 22:24.15.  Steen is a product of Hartsville High School.  Senior Caroline Thompkins finished 199th in a time of 23:04.72, while sophomore Rowan Hearn was 202nd with a time of 23:10.54.
 
Other Patriot finishers were sophomore Alia Turcios (23:19.24) placing 205th, freshman Addison Roberts (23:52.61) 214th, sophomore Katelynn Roberts (24:51.66) 217th, junior Meri Ellen Johnson (25:42.28) 221st, sophomore Mia Edmundson (26:38.97) 223rd, freshman Deyra Martinez (27:17.81) 224th, junior Briggs Kelly (28:47.71) 226th, and junior Emily Gaines (29:21.30) 227th.
 
Freshmen newcomers Jaden Alexander and Luis Cedeno paced the FMU men in the 8,000-meter race.  Alexander finished 201st with a time of 29:35.78, while Cedeno – a West Florence High School product – placed 204th in 29:42.55.
 
Other Francis Marion finishers were junior Dominic Rigoni (32:20.75) in 225th position,  sophomore Grayson Hartson (33:19.50) in 229th, junior Niclas Giessler (33:36.41) in 230th, sophomore Kyle Elliott (personal-best time of 34:53.53) in 232nd, and senior Michael James (38:47.98) in 234th.
 
Wake Forest University captured the women's team title, while Charlotte sat atop the final men's team strandings.