Ferrum cross country competes at Converse Kick-Off

SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Ferrum College's men's and women's cross country teams competed Saturday at the Converse Kick-Off SE Regional Preview. The Ferrum women finished 11th with 323 points, while the Panther men placed 12th with 363 points.

Women's race

UNC-Asheville won the women's 6K team competition with 52 points, followed by Emory (66), Catawba (69), Wingate (84) and Anderson (S.C.) (121). Lincoln Memorial (170), SCAD (186), Converse (242), Lenoir-Rhyne (261), Belmont Abbey (317), Ferrum (323), King (350), Emmanuel (Ga.) (388), Allen (408) and Claflin (440) rounded out the 15-team field.

Riley Waldron led Ferrum, placing 45th overall in 25:02. Waldron's time was the second-best in school history in the 6K. Sarah Hudgins finished 59th in 26:02, followed by Destyne Rutherford in 69th at 27:03. Ellianna Montgomery placed 73rd in 27:33, while Carly Carwile rounded out the Panthers' scoring five in 77th at 28:45. Hannah Banks finished 80th in 29:24, and Mi'Yah Young placed 83rd in 29:59. Hudgins recorded a personal-best time.

Men's race

Wingate won the men's 8K team competition with 26 points, followed by Anderson (S.C.) with 70, UNC-Asheville with 100, Catawba with 122 and Emory with 127. Lenoir-Rhyne (142), Lincoln Memorial (215), Converse (240), Mars Hill (253), Belmont Abbey (267), King (332), Ferrum (363), Emmanuel (Ga.) (373), Allen (432) and Claflin (438) completed the 15-team field.

Damani Veney-Epps led the Panthers, finishing 55th overall in 26:55. Veney-Epps' time is a new school record. Tyler Elliott followed in 58th at 27:09, while Carlos Menendez placed 71st in 28:03. Bryson Kelly finished 89th in 30:09.8, followed by Ethan Fitzgerald in 90th at 30:26. Jaxon Skyes placed 92nd in 30:54, while Isaiah Chenier finished 96th in 31:29. Veney-Epps, Menendez and Fitzgerald each recorded personal-best times.

Coach Andre Kidd's men and women will return to action Friday, October 9, at the Royals Cross Country Challenge in Charlotte, North Carolina.