PEMBROKE, N.C.--Under second-year head coach David Lyle, the USC Aiken women’s cross country team placed fifth out of nine teams at the 2005 Peach Belt Conference Championships in Lumberton, N.C. The 5K race was run at Luther Britt Park and hosted by UNC Pembroke. USC Aiken’s best ever finish of fifth came in both the 1991 and 1992 seasons, but it was fifth out of six and eight schools respectively.

Columbus State took home the team title with 57 total points, the Lady Cougars first PBC Championship in cross country. UNC Pembroke was second with 81 points while Clayton State (86), Lander (89), and USC Aiken (123) rounded out spots three through five. Augusta State (127) crossed the line sixth followed by newcomer North Georgia (145), Georgia College & State (172), and Francis Marion (188).

North Georgia’s Irina Watkins won the individual title with a time of 17:53, becoming only the second female to win two PBC titles. She won the event in 2002 as a member of Kennesaw State’s squad.

Freshmen Renea Marshall and Alley Dachenhaus finished 16th and 19th, both posting personal record times. Marshall crossed the line at 21:05.19 while Dachenhaus was just 10 seconds behind at 21:15.07. Junior Marcie Milner finished in 21:24.14 to claim 21st place while senior Ashley Reedy was right behind Milner in 22nd at 21:27.21. Mid-season addition Katie Halvorsen also recorded a personal best time at 23:48.15 to finish 45th.

“I was very pleased with our finish at the conference meet,” said Lyle. “Renea, Alley, and Katie all ran personal records. We just had a tremendous effort from everyone on our team.”

Marshall just missed earning All-Conference honors as the top 13 runners received that recognition. Augusta State’s Jenafer Forward was named the PBC Freshman of the Year while UNC Pembroke head coach Larry Rogers won PBC Coach of the Year accolades.

2005 Peach Belt Conference Championships
Pembroke, N.C., 5K, October 22, 2005

USCA Individual Results
16. Renea Marshall....................21:05.19
19. Alley Dachenhaus...............21:15.07
21. Marcie Milner.......................21:24.14
22. Ashley Reedy.....................21:27:21
45. Katie Halvorsen..................23:48:15

Team Results
1. Columbus State............................57
2. UNC Pembroke.............................81
3. Clayton State...............................86
4. Lander.........................................89
5. USC Aiken...............................123
6. Augusta State...........................127
7. North Georgia...........................145
8. Georgia College & State...........172
9. Francis Marion.........................188