AUGUSTA, Ga. – Five Augusta State runners were named to the Peach Belt Conference all-conference teams, after the men took second and the women ninth, at this year's Peach Belt Conference Championships in Montevallo, Ala., on Saturday, Oct. 20.
First-team all-conference was awarded to the top-seven finishers, while the second seven were named second team. The PBC announced the All-Sportsmanship team as well, naming one runner from each team for exhibiting exceptional sportsmanship during the season.
Sophomore Jaiden Brandt was named a first-team selection, after a fourth place finish in 25:41.76 and junior Dustin Ross was named to the second team, crossing the line eighth overall in 26:00.44. Both runners were named all-conference last year as well, with Brandt repeating first-team success.
This is the third time this year the duo has finished in the top-10 out of their five races on the season. Brandt took second and Ross sixth at the Jaguar Invitational, leading the team to first place, and Ross took first and Brandt third the last time they ran Montevallo's home course on Sept. 22.
Sophomore Jessica Carpenter was the lone women's all-conference honoree for the second year in a row. Carpenter took 14th at the PBC Championships in 23:30.83. Carpenter paced the Jags in four out of the five meets.
Junior Matthew Johnson and sophomore Stephanie Cipollone both made the all-sportsmanship team for ASU in the conference.
2012 Peach Belt Conference
Women's Cross Country All-Conference Team
First Team
Livia Mahaffie, UNC Pembroke
Kaley Glover, Montevallo
Racquel Valadez, Clayton State
Haley Evans, Montevallo
Moneque English, Columbus State
Samantha Walling, Clayton State
Paige Galvin, Clayton State
Second Team
Jessi Young, Georgia Southwestern
Kristina Delpesche, Columbus State
Nicole Smith, Young Harris
Taylor Strekel, Flagler
Emily Beusse, North Georgia
Rayna Green, Columbus State
Jessica Carpenter, Augusta State
Co-Runners of the Year
Haley Evans, Montevallo
Kaley Glover, Montevallo
Nicole Smith, Young Harris
Freshman of the Year
Jessi Young, Georgia Southwestern
All-Sportsmanship Team
Augusta State – Stephanie Cipollone
Clayton State – Paige Galvin
Columbus State – Moneque English
Flagler – Taylor Strekel
Francis Marion – Hannah Muzzillo
Georgia College – Taylor Roeck
Georgia Southwestern – Kaitlin Wilkinson
Montevallo – Kaley Glover
UNC Pembroke – Livia Mahaffie
North Georgia – Sallie Davis
USC Aiken – Hillary Spears
Young Harris – Ciara Wood
2012 Peach Belt Conference
Men's Cross Country All-Conference Team
First Team
Pardon Ndhlovu, UNC Pembroke
Jacob Dirkman, Columbus State
Heath Lamb, Columbus State
Jaiden Brandt, Augusta State
Stephen Bowers, Columbus State
Silas Rogut, Columbus State
Corey Mundy, Flagler
Second Team
Dustin Ross, Augusta State
Dillon Hodge, Flagler
Alex Bitok, Young Harris
Job Kemboi, Clayton State
Erik Hartley, Flagler
Charles Anderson, Clayton State
Ryan McFall, Columbus State
Runner of the Year
Pardon Ndhlovu, UNC Pembroke
Freshman of the Year
Jacob Dirkman, Columbus State
All-Sportsmanship Team
Armstrong Atlantic State – Jerry 'Scotty' Lawson
Augusta State – Matthew Johnson
Clayton State – Ricky Fort
Columbus State – Nathan Reeves
Flagler – Corey Mundy
Francis Marion – Braylin Bloise
Georgia College – Michael Valerio
Montevallo – Jake Davidson
UNC Pembroke – Pardon Ndhlovu
Young Harris – Trent Jone