by Benny Benton
CONCORD, N.C. – Barton College runners Sharon Kiptoo and Heather Cuddington produced all-conference performances for the second straight season in leading the Lady Bulldogs to a sixth-place finish at the 2016 Conference Carolinas Championships on Friday.
Kiptoo, a junior from Eldoret, Kenya, completed the 6K course at Frank Liske Park in a personal record time of 23:18.4 to earn second place in a field of 81. The runner-up finish was the best by a Lady Bulldog in at least 18 years, and earned BC's first All-Conference Carolinas First-Team award since Ericka Skinner in 2011.
Cuddington picked up All-Conference Carolinas Second-Team acclaim after crossing the line sixth in a personal record time of 23:33.8. The Saratoga, N.C., resident blew away her previous PR at the 6K distance by more than two minutes.
The duo led Barton to sixth place in a field of 10 teams, one spot higher than last season.
Judith Melly, competing in just her second 6K event since transferring to BC last year, was nearly five minutes better than her previous start at that distance with her effort of 26:57. She placed 42nd in Friday's field.
Senior Jamicia Jones delivered a time of 27:26.20 to finish 49th, and senior Jayvona McDaniel produced a mark of 29:33.39 to place 68th.
The only runner in the field to beat Kiptoo was University of Mount Olive's Leah Hanle, who raced to both freshman and runner of the year honors with a time of 22:29.87. She helped UMO claim the team crown for the second straight season with 39 points.
Limestone College was second with 57 points, and North Greenville University was a distant third with 107 points.
Barton will compete in the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional on Saturday, Nov. 5, which will be hosted by the University of Montevallo (Ala.).
Conference Carolinas Championship
1. University of Mount Olive, 39
2. Limestone College, 57
3. North Greenville University, 107
4. Pfeiffer University, 126
5. Belmont Abbey College, 141
6. Barton College, 153
7. Southern Wesleyan University, 179
8. King University, 181
9. Converse College, 199
10. Lees-McRae College, 272
Barton (out of 81 individuals)
2. Sharon Kiptoo, 23:18.39
6. Heather Cuddington, 23:33.77
42. Judith Melly, 26:56.97
49. Jamicia Jones, 27:26.20
68. Jayvona McDaniel, 29:33.39
