Peach Belt Conference

EVANS, GA -- For the second straight year, the Columbus State men’s and women’s cross country teams captured the Peach Belt Conference cross country championships which were run on Saturday at Blanchard Woods Park in Evans, Ga. For the men, the Cougars had four runners in the top 10 for 41 points to edge out Clayton State, who ran second with 47. On the women’s side, the Lady Cougars, who won their third straight PBC title, had three of the top five finishers for 39 points, beating out host Augusta State who was second with 46.

The women’s race was won by Columbus State’s Isabel Speer, who covered the 5k track in a course-record 20:02. Speer, who was named the PBC Runner of the Year for her effort, finished 28 seconds ahead of her nearest competitor. That happened to be Augusta State’s Jenafer Forward who was second in 20:30 followed by her teammate Kristyn Holley in third at 20:31. Columbus State’s Kandace Smith was fourth and teammate Tiara Brown was fifth.

Augusta State finished second as a team, their highest finish at a PBC Championship since 1995. Georgia College & State University was third with 102 points while USC Aiken was fourth and Lander fifth. Francis Marion, UNC Pembroke, North Georgia and Clayton State rounded out the women’s team scoring.

For the men, Clayton State’s Walid Berkedle roared off the starting line and never looked back, winning the 8k race in 26:43, 11 seconds ahead of CSU’s Tim Engish who was second. Berkhedle, a true freshman, was named the PBC Runner of the Year and Freshman of the Year, the second straight freshman to claim both awards, following Columbus State’s John Riddle, who pulled off the feat in 2006. UNC Pembroke’s Giovanni Bilotta was third with CSU’s Stewart Helton in fourth and Clayton State’s Anthony Aguilar in fifth.

Columbus State had all five runners finish in the top 20 to win their second straight PBC Championship. Clayton State had runners at the 1,4,6 and 11 spots to finish six points behind. Georgia College & State University finished just nine points behind for third while North Georgia and Francis Marion rounded out the team scoring.

All-Conference awards were presented to the top 14 women’s runners. The top five all received plaques as did Lander’s Olga Nunez-Lopez, UNC Pembroke’s Tierra McIntosh, North Georgia’s Emmy Lawalin, Augusta State’s Annie Kim, USC Aiken’s Nicole Maitland, GCSU’s Bonne Ueltzen, ASU’s Kara Kreutzer, GCSU's Dani Destiche and Columbus State’s Lachish McCurklin.

For the men, the top eight runners were named All-Conference. In addition to the top five already mentioned, GCSU’s Richard Dobson, Clayton State’s Joey Chino and GCSU’s Josh Hollar were all given awards.

Augusta State’s Adam Ward was named the PBC women’s Coach of the Year while Georgia College & State University’s Joe Samprone took home the men’s award.

Columbus State Captures Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships