Dalton State cross country teams each finished Friday competition in the top four of the annual Bobcat Invitational, hosted by Georgia College and State University.
The Dalton men were second ( behind NCAA D-II Columbus State. The Ladies finished fourth behind three NCAA D-II schools - Georgia College and State University, Columbus State and Georgia Regents University of Augusta.
"I'm proud of how our kids ran," said Roadrunner co-coach Margie Bruner. "They are coming off of a tough training week and it was really hot this afternoon.
We are exactly where we need to be at this point in our season."
Nine Dalton State men finished in the top 25. Only seven count for each team. The men's field included 61 runners.
Spencer Head finished the four-mile run in fifth with a time of 21:16.64. Paul Patterson was 12th (21:45.86). The next two runners were teammates. Issac Pacheco was right behind at 21:53.03 and Brody Cook was 14th at 21:58.67.
Paul Schupp was 15th (22:08.78). Jacob Robinson finished 16th (22:09.93). Saddoth Fraire (22nd place) had the last DS counting time at 22:36.09.
Dalton's Dylan Smith (22:47.32) was right behind Fraire. Parker Cook was 25th with a time of 22:51.70. Also, #38 William Garrett (24:34.56) and #43 Lane Bramblett (25:26.22).
A veteran Columbus State men's team had five of the top 11. Senior Heath Lamb was second (21:06.53). Junior Cordaryl Whitehead was sixth (21:16.65). Senior Ian Edwards was eighth ((21:24.05). Junior Ryan McFall was 10th (21:34.89). Junior Jaccob Mobbs was 11th (21:44.96).
1. Columbus State 32 21:25.42 average
2. Dalton State 55 21:48.60 average
3. Georgia College 60 21:54.07 average
4. GRU Augusta 79 22:12.45 average
5. Albany State 166 25:16.98 average
6. South Georgia 172 26:13.42 average
7. Central Ga Tech 197 29:21.49 average
8. Fort Valley State 225 32:12.68 average
The top seven Dalton State women count in the scoring. They were led by Gloria Pascual. She was the seventh fastest with a time of 12:29.42. Teammate Kuersten Gallivan was close behind in ninth (12:39.55). They were the only freshmen in the top nine.
Natalie Hensley was 19th (13:00.66). Nayeli Jacobo finished in 22nd place (13:06.09). Mallory Edwards was 27th (13:42.57). Olivia Bird was 30th with a 13:49.56. Jessica Brock was 31st with a 13:52.35. There were 65 runners in the two-mile event.
1. Georgia College 47 12:37.43 average
2. Columbus State 50 12:39.24 average
3. GRU Augusta 56 12:40.57 average
4. Dalton State 80 12:59.66 average
5. Albany State 149 14:35.77 average
6. S.C. - Aiken 168 15:08.63 average
7. South Ga. State 210 17:18.40 average
8. Fort Valley State 249 20:22.96 average
9. Central Ga. Tech 249 20:18.79 average
Dalton High product Bekah Houston (GCSU) was 15th (12:50.80). GCSU had four freshman in the top 14. It was the first competition at the new Council Farm Course near here.
Next Dalton State XC will be on Saturday morning, October 11, when they travel to Greenville, SC to compete in the Furman Invitational.
Dalton State athletic teams are beginning just our second season of intercollegiate athletics. We have nine teams this season. Men's and women's cross country, men's and women's golf, men's and women's tennis, volleyball, competition cheer, and men's basketball.
The Georgia Board or Regents has approved men's and women's soccer for the 2015-2016 school year. Home soccer will be played on the artificial turf soccer field at Lakeshore Park.