Patriots open Cross Country season in Peach State

The Francis Marion University men's and women's cross country teams will open their 2008 schedules on Saturday (Sept. 6) when the Patriots compete in the Pre-Conference Meet to be hosted by Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, Ga.

The meet will begin at 8:30 a.m. on the West Campus Cross Country Course with the men's 8,000-meter race.  The women's 5,000-meter race will follow at approximately 9:15 a.m.

Five of the six Peach Belt Conference schools that sponsor men's cross country will be participating, while eight of the 10 women's squads will be present.  Among the schools expected to participate are Augusta State University, Clayton State University, Columbus State University, GC&SU, FMU, Georgia Southwestern State University, North Georgia College & State University, and USC Aiken.

FMU head coach Mark Bluman welcomes back five runners on the men's side and four runners on the women's team.

The men are led by senior Steven Holmes, the team's most valuable runner each of the past two years.  In 2007, the Hodges, S.C., native was Francis Marion's top finisher in five of seven races.  He placed 33rd at the PBC Championship Meet and 80th at the NCAA South Regional Championships.

Sophomore Ben Miller, who led the Patriots at the PBC Championship Meet last fall with a 19th-place finish in career-best time of 28:15 (over 8,000-meters), also returns.

Other returnees include seniors Dan Brann and TJ Simmons and sophomore Jerry Roth, while newcomers include junior transfers Hillary Kiprop (from NYIT) and Adam Wilson (from SUNY Delhi) and sophomore Bryson Robinson.

The FMU women are led by senior Kelly May, the team's most valuable runner in 2005 and 2006.  An All-Conference selection in 2005 and 2006, she paced the Patriots at the NCAA regional meet last fall with a 41st-place showing. 

Also returning are juniors Amanda Doyle, Holly Todd, and Kim Richardson.  Amanda Booker, a junior from Wilson High School, joins the team this year as does Samantha Smith, a freshman from Lexington S.C.

The 2008 FMU slate includes five regular-season meets and the Peach Belt championships, Oct. 25 in Milledgeville, and the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Meet, Nov. 8 in Wingate, N.C.  Following Saturday's meet, the Patriots will run at the at N.C. State Wolfpack Invitational on Sept. 12 in Cary, N.C., at The Rock Meet hosted by Limestone College on Sept. 20, at the Elite Cross Country Invitational hosted by Erskine College on Oct. 4, and at the Wingate University Pre-Conference Invitational on Oct. 16.