by Benny Benton
BELMONT, N.C. – Barton College senior Cimone Barbour delivered an all-conference performance and six Lady Bulldogs finished among the top 35 as the women's cross country team placed fifth in the 2014 Conference Carolinas Championships, hosted by Belmont Abbey College Friday at Frank Liske Park.
Barbour, a two-time All-Conference Carolinas honoree in track and field, earned the award for the first time in cross country with her Third-Team All-Conference showing of 20:14.4, which was 14th in the field of 88. The time was 24 seconds better than her mark on the same course last year and six seconds lower than her previous best in the league meet.
Her all-conference award gave Barton at least one honoree in four of the past five seasons.
One of last year's all-conference recipients, senior Angelica Del Real, placed 26th for the Lady Bulldogs this year with a time of 20:53.3. She was 10 seconds and two places ahead of senior teammate Lauren Andreola.
Senior Andrea Roca improved her time in the conference championships for the fourth straight year with her effort of 21.10.2. Junior Jamicia Jones, running in her first league meet, provided Barton's final counting score by placing 34th with a time of 21:18.0. Jones finished ahead of her sophomore teammate, Heather Cuddington, by just three-tenths of a second.
Three other runners competed for the Lady Bulldogs in the meet. Eva Amo-Mensah and Tikycia Young finished together in 59th and 60th, one second apart (22:49.2 and 22:50.2) and junior Lauren Yoho recorded a time of 23:22.2.
Despite a roster composed entirely of freshmen, regionally-ranked No. 7 King University claimed its third straight league crown by placing all five scoring runners among the top 17 for 47 points. University of Mount Olive trailed in second with 74 points, followed by Limestone College (108), Converse College (112) and Barton (133).
The Lady Bulldogs will compete in the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional on Saturday, Nov. 22, in Montevallo, Ala. The race, which will determine the individual and team qualifiers for the NCAA Division II National Championship, will be 6K in length for the women. Barton finished 13th among 19 squads in a 6K race held on the same course three weeks ago, the Falcon Classic.
Conference Carolinas Championships Results (5K)
1. King University (47)
2. University of Mount Olive (74)
3. Limestone College (108)
4. Converse College (112)
5. Barton College (133)
6. North Greenville University (137)
7. Erskine College (170)
8. Pfeiffer University (175)
9. Belmont Abbey College (231)
10. Lees-McRae College (232)
Barton Women's Results
20:14.4 – Cimone Barbour (14th/88)
20:53.3 – Angelica Del Real (26th)
21:03.1 – Lauren Andreola (28th)
21:10.2 – Andrea Roca (31st)
21:18.0 – Jamicia Jones (34th)
21:18.3 – Heather Cuddington (35th)
22:49.2 – Eva Amo-Mensah (59th)
22:50.2 – Tikycia Young (60th)
23:22.2 – Lauren Yoho (72nd)
