Contact: Cara Lynn Teague
Phone: (850) 474-2428
November 6, 2004

Argonauts Finish Fifth in South Regional; Padilla Headed to National

MEMPHIS, TENN. - The West Florida men's cross country team took a fifth place finish at the NCAA Division II South Regional meet today to end their 2004 campaign. Harding University, Kennesaw State University and Florida Southern College took the first three spots, respectively, and will advance to the national event.

All was not lost for the Argonauts. Sophomore Michael Padilla of Pine Forest High School qualified for the NCAA Division II National Tournament to be held in Evansville, Ind. next Friday as an individual. He is the first West Florida men's cross country harrier to ever make the cut. Padilla had a 10K time of 31:17 to break the UWF record and place him fifth at the Regional. He was the first individual to place behind Harding competitors.

Sam Ishee was UWF's next finisher at 19th place with a time of 32:35, slating third in the UWF Record Book. Caleb Carmichael came in 26th with a time of 33:03, fifrth in school history. Ramad Hicks was 48th in 34:23; Jamie Duffell came in 57th with a time of 34:45; and Josh Wyatt placed 60th in 34:49.