ANDERSON, S.C. – With an eye on building for the entire season, the Anderson University men's and women's cross country teams are set to open the 2016 campaign Friday night at the USC Upstate Eye Opener in Spartanburg, S.C.
The women's race is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. with the men's race to follow at the Milliken Research Center.
The Trojans will feature a limited number of runners competing in the season opener, which will mark the Black and Gold's first appearance in the event since the 2013 season. The Trojan men captured seventh three years ago, while the women's squad placed fifth.
The Trojan men's squad, tabbed sixth in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Preseason Southeast Region Poll, is dominated by six returning letterwinners, including 2015 All-South Atlantic Conference selections Mason Hazel and Ben Boerma. Hazel earned All-Conference honors in both his freshman and sophomore campaigns, with Boerma capturing the accolade last season.
The Trojan women's team was ranked seventh in the Southeast Region earlier this week by the USTFCCCA and boasts a deep and talented roster, with 19 runners on the roster and approximately half slated to compete Friday.
Four of the dozen returning letterwinners earned all-conference honors a year ago, with Olivia Gardner and Haylee Love capturing first-team accolades. Alex Dixon collected second-Team All-SAC honors, while Martha Coleman nabbed All-Freshman Team recognition.
