BEECH ISLAND, S.C. – Senior T.J. Witherspoon (Thomasville, Ga.) led Clayton State men's cross country at the 2018 Peach Belt Conference Championships as the team finished 6-of-8 on Saturday, November 3. Overall they garnered 171 points.
 
Witherspoon came in 29-of-72 with a time of 26:46.80 and was followed by fellow senior Ryan Polk (Marietta, Ga.) in 37^th (27:26.00). Junior Evan Ortiz (McDonough, Ga.), who had led the club in their five previous meets, finished one spot behind with a time of 27:28.40.
 
Sophomores Na'im Allen (McDonough, Ga.) and Zach Czerniak (Suwanee, Ga.) came in 45^th (27:54.60) and 49^th (29:07.20), respectively and redshirt-junior Jason Dang (Gainesville, Ga.) rounded things out 64^th with a mark of 31:27.90.
 
UNC Pembroke claimed the team championship with 36 points, narrowly out pacing host Augusta (40). Flagler (81), Georgia College (87) and Columbus State (95) rounded out the top five.
 
Clayton State returns to action on Saturday, November 17 when they compete in the 2018 NCAA Division II Southeast Region Championship. That meet will be hosted by North Georgia and held in Oakwood, Georgia at 10:15 a.m.
 
Clayton State Finishers at 2018 Peach Belt Conference Championships
T.J. Witherspoon – 29-of-72 (26:46.80)
Ryan Polk – 37-of-72 (27:26.00)
Evan Ortiz – 38-of-72 (27:28.40)
Na'im Allen – 45-of-72 (27:54.60)
Zach Czerniak – 49-of-72 (29:07.20)
Jason Dang – 64-of-72 (31:27.90)