Michael Fidero Crowned GSAC Cross Country Individual Champion
Contact: Richard Dombrowsky, Sports Information Director
Junior Michael Fidero became the first runner in PC history to claim the Great South Athletic Conference individual championship with an 8K time of 28:57.
The Piedmont College men and women's cross country teams competed in the Great South Athletic Conference Championships this afternoon hosted by Maryville College in Maryville, TN. Michael Fidero claimed the men's individual championship becoming the first PC runner in school history to claim the individual title.
Fidero ran the 8K course in a time of 28:57, nearly one full minute ahead of the rest of the field. The individual title is the second of the year for the junior who was crowned champion of the Maryville College Pre-Conference Invitational. Matt Collins also competed finishing in 10th place with a time of 32:02.
On the women's side Jennifer Gathercoal finished as the top Lady Lion with a 6K time of 28:45 placing her eighth in the 45-runner field. Anna McClatchy crossed the finish line in 27th place with a time of 32:38 while Stephanie Garrett finished in 34:38 good enough for 33rd place. Rounding out the field for PC was Emily Woodward and Lisa Jennings with times of 36:57 and 37:06 respectively. As a team the Lady Lions finished in sixth place out of the seven-team field.
Fidero highlighted the Great South Athletic Conference year-end awards being named the conference's Runner of the Year. Fidero was also named to the GSAC All-Conference team while Collins was named to the league's All-Freshman team. On the women's side Jennifer Gathercoal represented PC on the All-Conference Team.
Earning spots on the All-Academic teams were Fidero, Collins, Gathercoal, Garrett, Jennings, and Woodward.