NEED TO KNOW
Date: Nov. 13, 2021
Location: Spartanburg, S.C. – Milliken Research Park
Events:  Men 8k // Women 6k
Team Finishes: Men, 12^th of 23; Women,11^th of 23
 
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Senior VAL ANGEL led the way for Piedmont University's cross country teams at Saturday's NCAA South Regional as her eighth-place finish qualified her for the NCAA National Championship meet next week.
 
Angel is the first cross country runner in Piedmont's Division III era to qualify for the national meet. The NCAA Division III Cross Country National Championships will take place next Saturday, November 20, in Louisville, Kentucky.
 
Angel and the Lions competed in the Live in Lou Classic earlier this season on the same E.P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park course that will host the championships.
 
A 23:14.7 official time for Angel led the way for her Piedmont teammates, including junior JAYCIE PONCE who finished in 21^st place with a 23:46.0 official time. Both Angel and Ponce earned All-Region status with their performances.
 
Juniors ADDIE BOLTON (65^th – 25:23.6), JOSEY GEORGE (72^nd – 25:37.1), and LEEANN LAWRENCE (120^th – 28:12.0) rounded out the scoring for the Lady Lions as they finished 11^th out of 23 teams. That marks the highest finish for the women's program ever at the NCAA regional.
 
Before the women took the course, the Piedmont men set the stage with a 12^th place finish of their own. Senior CONNOR MORANOS led the way with a 26:36.3 final time and a 26^th place finish, which earned him All-Region status as well.
 
Junior GARY HALVERSON was not far behind in 48^th place with a 27:07.9 time while junior DARIUS SMITH clocked a personal-best 27:37.7, earning himself a 61^st place finish.
 
Juniors JACOB BALOT (99^th – 28:53.7) and CONNOR CREEDON (103^rd – 29:07.7) finished out the scoring for the Lion men.
 
Both Piedmont squads were the second-highest finishing USA South teams at the regional meet. Of the participating conference opponents, only Southern Virginia (6^th, women; 7^th, men) scored lower than the Lions.
 
Complete men's results:
8k:
CONNOR MORANOS – 26:36.3 (All-Region)
GARY HALVERSON – 27:07.9
DARIUS SMITH – 27:37.7
JACOB BALOT – 28:53.7
CONNOR CREEDON – 29:07.7
COLE ELROD – 29:37.1
 
Complete women's results:
6k:
VAL ANGEL – 23:14.7 (All-Region)
JAYCIE PONCE – 24:46.0 (All-Region)
ADDIE BOLTON – 25:23.6
JOSEY GEORGE – 25:37.1
LEEANN LAWRENCE – 28:12.0
MADALYN WILLIAMS – 28:25.8
IMANI VINCENT – 29:07.8

HOW TO FOLLOW:
To stay up to date on all information regarding Piedmont University Athletics, be sure to visit PiedmontLions.com and connect with the Green and Gold on social media. Follow the Lions on Twitter: @PiedmontLions, Instagram: @PiedmontLions,  and Facebook. To follow each Piedmont athletic program on social media, use the Social Media Directory at PiedmontLions.com or click here.