FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Contact:  Robert Preston, Jr.,
              912.260.4276
              robert.preston@sgc.edu

Cross Country Tigers Place Second (Women), Third (Men) at Finals

In just its first year of competition, the South Georgia College women’s cross country team brought home the second-place plaque from the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association Region XVII conference meet on Saturday. The men also had a strong meet, placing third thanks to three runners — Sam Caldwell, Mark McLeod and Brandon Lundin — who finished the eight-kilometer race in under 30 minutes. Three Tigers made the All Conference team as a result of their efforts at the meet.

The finals, held in Albany at Darton College, was by far the best meet SGC has had in its short history. Prior to this meet, just one of the men had broken the magic 30-minute barrier. Thanks to cool weather, a flat course and nearly three months of hard work, three Tigers ran sub-30 minute races with one more, Josh Holcombe of Covington, getting very close. Sam Caldwell of Bremen finished fifth overall with a 27:57. Mark McLeod, a freshman from Fitzgerald (29:23, 12th), and Brandon Lundin, a sophomore from Orange Park, Fla., (29:44, 15th) followed. Holcombe posted a 30:24, just six seconds per mile off a sub-30:00 effort. Fitzgerald’s Daniel Chavez (30:45), Blackshear’s Ashe Kelly (30:59) and John Adams of Nicholls (33:17) crossed the line next. Each of the men ran a personal best at Darton. The team’s average was 29:38; far and away the fastest meet SGC has done this year.

In the women's race, Jennifer Cumbus of Berrien County ran a 21:35 (fiftth overall) and Minerva Arreguin of Avon Park, Fla., posted a 22:16 (ninth). Sunshine Carter of Baxley (24:12), Courtlyn Fussell of Douglas (24:45) and Shukia Jones of Waycross (31:12) rounded out the women's line-up. The women's average time was 24:52; again, by far the best team average all season long.

For the first time since SGC added cross country to its athletic program, the All Conference team included a few Tigers. The top 10 runners in the conference finals earn a spot on the All Conference team; top five is First Team while places six-10 are Second Team. Caldwell and Cumbus earned First Team honors while Arreguin made Second Team.

“I cannot overstate how proud I am of each one of these runners. To come away with awards from the finals means that they did something right this year. Every runner on our team has done everything I’ve asked of them — and I’ve asked a lot. They’ve worked very hard and put in the miles, done the laps around the track and slogged through all the long runs. They have represented their families, their program and their school very well this year,” says Robert Preston Jr., SGC cross country coach.

The Tigers’ season isn’t over yet. On Nov. 13, they will compete in the junior college national meet at Spartanburg, S.C.

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About South Georgia College

South Georgia College (www.sgc.edu) was founded in 1906 and is an accredited two-year institution in the University System of Georgia. Located in Douglas, Ga., the college's environment gives students exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary study and close collaboration with faculty. With over 20 majors and transfer opportunities, South Georgia College provides the finest education possible to the citizens of its service area.