Panthers compete in Pre-Conference Race: Driggers finishes 5th
Sept. 27, 2008

MARYVILLE, Tenn. – The Panther cross country team competed in the Pre-Conference meet at Maryville College on Saturday.  Six of seven GSAC schools were present at the meet, giving the Panthers a good look at whom they will compete against in the Conference Championships in November, which will also be held at Maryville.

LaGrange had five runners compete in the 6k race.  Senior and team captain Laura Driggers had a career-high meet, finishing fifth overall in a field of over 50 runners with a time of 30:13.00.  Her fifth place finish is the highest finish of any LaGrange College runner in the past two years.  Coach Chuck Peek commented on Driggers' performance, saying, "I feel that this was without a doubt her best career race, despite having been run on a new course that produced a lot of slow times.  I am confident that she will once again do well when we return to Maryville for the Conference Championships on November 1."

The rest of the LaGrange women also finished well.  Junior Amara Hickson completed the race with a time of 35:58.00.  First-year runners Chelsea Herring, Megan Anderson, and Rachel Watson finished with times of 37:05.00, 37:38.00, and 38:04.00 respectively.  GSAC rival Huntingdon College won the women's team competition.

The Panthers had two men compete in the 8k race, not meeting the five-man requirement for team competition.  Nevertheless, Junior Bill Simons and Senior William Jordan ran very well for the Panthers, both finishing in the top 20 runners.  Simons finished eighth overall with a time of 32:20.00, while Jordan finished 17th in 33:41.00.  Tennessee Wesleyan won the team competition for the men.

LaGrange's next scheduled meet is the Oglethorpe Invitational in Atlanta, Ga. on Friday, Oct. 18.

Click here for the GSAC Pre-Conference Race results.