ROCK HILL, S.C. - For the second consecutive outing, freshman Olivia Gardner paced the Anderson women's cross country team, as the Trojans garnered fourth-place at the 27th annual Winthrop/Adidas Invitational Saturday morning on the Winthrop Farm Course.
Coming off a two-week layoff, the Trojans finished behind Alabama-Huntsville, Shorter and Emmanuel in the 5K event, while out-distancing South Atlantic Conference members Mars Hill, which finished fifth, and SAC preseason favorite Lenoir-Rhyne, which captured sixth. L-R was ranked seventh in the most recent USTFCCCA Southeast Region Poll, while Mars Hill was 10th.
"We were really pleased today," said Anderson head coach Randy Greer. "We ran well as a team and beat some ranked teams that we will need to beat later on."
Gardner's time of 19:28.43 was more than 32 seconds faster than
her collegiate debut at USC Upstate's Eye Opener two weeks ago, as
the Tarpon Springs, Fla. native crossed the line in 10th place.
Junior Sydney Hazel (19:48.53) trimmed more than 38 seconds from
the season opener in Spartanburg and was more than a minute faster
than last season at Winthrop, as she finished 14th. AU freshman
Bari Robinson (20:25.14) slashed nearly 1 ½ minutes from her
debut, finishing 21st.
Senior Hannah Robles (21:08.87) crossed the line 50 seconds faster
than two weeks ago and captured 36th, while freshman Amber Worthy
(21:25.48) trimmed 49 seconds from her effort at the Eye Opener and
finished 37th. Sophomore Devan Fisher (22:13.05) slashed 70 seconds
from her time at the Eye Opener and junior Madison Guest finished
56th with a time of 22:19.55, which was 42 seconds faster than two
weeks ago in Spartanburg. Freshman Mia Swiersz (22:34.85) rounded
out the AU contingent in 59th.
Anderson will get back on the course Sept. 28, when the Trojans are
slated to compete in the UNC Charlotte Invitational.
