Clayton State finishes second in Peach Belt Conference Women’s Cross Country Championships

AIKEN, S.C – October 22, 2011 – The Clayton State Laker women's cross country team placed four runners in the Top 15, and that was good enough for an impressive second-place finish in the Peach Belt Conference Championships on Saturday at USC Aiken.

The Lakers accumulated 74 points, finishing 30 points behind team champion Montevallo in the standings. Clayton State defeated Augusta State by eight points and UNC Pembroke by nine points in the 10-team field. It marked the first time the Laker women have placed second in the Peach Belt Conference Championships since 2006 and the third time in program history.

Three Clayton State runners garnered All-Peach Belt Conference honors. Freshman Jessica Smith finished ninth overall in the 6K event with a time of 24:15.85, while junior Paige Galvin finished 12th with a time of 24:19.75 and sophomore Samantha Walling placed 13th in 24:21.91.

It was the first All-Peach Belt Conference honor for all three Laker runners, and it marked the first time since 2006 that Clayton State has had three runners earn All-Peach Belt for women's cross country.

However, it was almost four. Freshman Patricia Olleros, who plays for the Laker women's soccer team, made her cross country debut and placed 15th overall in 24:39.15, missing All-Peach Belt honors by a mere two seconds. Freshman Maia Kuhnen finished 25th overall in 25:01.39, while sophomore Gisele Javois finished 43rd overall in 26:34.06 and freshman Holly McNorton placed 56th in 28:44.87.

Clayton State will compete next in the NCAA Division II Southeast Regionals in Charlotte on Nov. 5.