OCEAN ISLE BEACH, N.C. -- Former Ferrum College Cross Country Coach Ed Wills recently hosted a group of runners for a weekend reunion in North Carolina. Former Panther runners traveled from as far as Florida and Connecticut to participate. The group rented a condo on Ocean Isle Beach for the weekend.

Arriving Friday night, the runners were treated to a pre-race meal of spaghetti, garlic bread and brownies prepared Wills' wife Marnie. This was the typical meal Ferrum cross-country teams would eat at Wills' home on campus the night before a race. They spent Saturday morning running in the Sunset Beach Half Marathon and 5K Race.

Dwayne Williams was the overall winner of the 5K and Mia Shelhorse finished 3rd in her age group. Eight former Panthers ran the half marathon, led by Stanley Shelhorse who finished 12th overall and first in his age group. Others participating in the half marathon were Eric Anderson, Amanda Morton, Jamie Morton, Jen Palmer, Jimmy Pride, Matt Scruggs and Ashley White Smith. For Jimmy and Matt, it was their first ever half marathon.

The group enjoyed the weekend hanging out on the beach, catching up and sharing memories. It is the first of what will be every other year events for the team. Pictured in the photo above photo (L-R) are Stanley Shelhorse, Jimmy Pride, Mia Shelhorse, Caroline Wills, Jamie Morton, Amanda Morton, Marnie Wills, Jen Palmer, Ashley White Smith, Eric Anderson, Matt Scruggs, Dwayne Williams, Ashley Williams, and Ed Wills. For more information on the next reunion, please contact Coach Wills at ewills@alexander.k12.nc.us.