SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The Anderson women's cross country team opened the 2011 season by posting a seventh-place finish while competing against a field that included eight Division I teams at USC Upstate's 28th Annual Eye Opener Friday evening at the Roger Milliken Research Park
Anderson, the defending South Atlantic Conference Champion, topped the NCAA D-II schools over the 5k course, finishing in front of fellow league schools Lenoir-Rhyne (8th), Carson-Newman (11th), Brevard (14th) and Mars Hill (17th), while also outpacing Wofford and Presbyterian.
Preseason All-South Atlantic selection Whitney Bishoff obliterated her previous best time at the event, trimming 33 seconds off last year's performance en route to finishing fourth overall (18:06) and tops among D-II competitors. Fellow conference runner Kate Grieswich (18:20) posted an eighth-place finish.
Sophomore Lydia Davis (20:17) was just off her pace from a year ago, but claimed 36th, while junior Emily Eckroth (20:40) shaved an impressive 27 seconds from last year's performance to cross the line in the 45th spot.
A pair of sophomores, Hannah Robles (21:03) and Rachel Westberry (21:49), finished 53rd and 74th, respectively.
The Trojans are back on the course Friday, Sept. 16, at the Clemson Invitational.
Results
