Cross Country teams race well at SLIAC Championships

Hillsboro, Ill. - On a chilly and windy morning in Hillsboro, Ill., Fontbonne cross country performed well at the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships. Despite finishing in sixth place for the women and seventh place on the men's side, the Griffins earned several personal records, creating a high-note before looking ahead to Regionals. It's the first time since 2012 that Fontbonne has fielded both teams in the conference championship.

As the women battled some light rain and heavy wind, junior Olivia Beggs led the Griffins, finishing in 15th place while running 24:14.93 on the winding course. The time is her second best overall and 16 seconds faster than at last year's conference meet. Senior Claire Becker crossed the finish line in 29th place, running 25:42.24. Her time is also her second best 6k event. Becker also garnished All-Sportsmanship honors for the women's team.

Jennie Stare and Annie McKenzie finished 33rd and 34th respectively. Stare's time of 27.02.64 is 2:16 faster than her fastest 6k, which happened to be last season's SLIAC conference meet. McKenzie ran 27:14.74 in the race, her first 6k collegiate event. Filling out the Griffin squad was Jaylah Jones who set a personal record time of 34:01.94 in her first 6k. Jones' time was faster than her first 5k of this season.

The rain stopped for the men's race and Chris Brown led Fontbonne, setting a personal record time of 28:20.64. The 30-second PR is 11th on Fontbonne's all-time list and put the junior in 25th place among SLIAC competitors. Teammate Cristian Sellars finished in 36th, running 28:53.90, which is faster than last year's conference meet and a season best. Tony Prospero finished third among the Griffins with a time of 32:12.70, running a 38-second PR. Alex Coggins' 33:22.46 time was almost three minutes faster than hir first-ever race at Evansville. Rounding out the men's team were first-time runners Aaron Boyer and Chris Graham who ran times of 33:49.34 and 37:10.17 respectively. Sellars garnished All-Sportsmanship honors for the second year in a row.

The teams will train for the next two weeks before racing at the NCAA Div. III Midwest Regionals on Nov. 14th. The event will take place at Saukie Golf Course in Rock Island, Ill.