ANDERSON, S.C. – Following some impressive individual performances a week ago in Spartanburg, the Anderson University men's and women's cross country teams are set to compete at the fourth annual Furman Cross Country Classic, hosted by the Paladins on Saturday on the Furman University Golf Course.
The races will kick off with the Blue Shoes Open 5K at 7:30 a.m. The collegiate women's 6K event will commence at 8:30 a.m., followed by the collegiate men's 8K race at 9:15 a.m. At 10 a.m. the high school girls' championship 5K will begin, followed by the high school boys' championship 5K race at 10:45 a.m. An awards presentation will follow at 11:30 a.m.
All races will be held on the cross country course of the Furman Golf Club, which has hosted two NCAA Division I Cross Country championships. The course was also the site of the 2015 Southern Conference Championships.
The Trojan women finished second at last weekend's Eye Opener, hosted by USC Upstate, with freshman Breck Jones pacing the Trojans over the 5K distance and finishing third among NCAA Division II runners. Sophomore Abigail Bozarth claimed sixth in Spartanburg, while newcomer Morgan Bridges placed seventh. Freshman Rebecca Faircloth finished in ninth place senior Mia Swierzs finished 14th among D-II competitors. Seniors Amber Worthy and Bari Robinson finished 20th and 22nd, respectively.
Senior Olivia Gardner has paced the women's squad in each of AU's last two appearances at Furman, including a 24th-place finish on a challenging 6K course a year ago, as the Black and Gold placed fifth as a team. Last season, Alex Dixon captured 26th place, while Haylee Love crossed the finish line in 33rd place. Martha Coleman was just behind in 35th, while Bozarth claimed the 38th spot.
Grace Gerlock finished 62nd a year ago, with Maddie Buddenberg taking the 94th spot.
Worthy and Allison Halperin finished 104th and 140th, respectively.
Three freshmen competed for the Trojans on the men's side last week at the Eye Opener, with Luke Horne finishing 11th among D-II runners. Teammate Brooks Hovis was 13th and Garret Knight finished 22nd.
Junior Mason Hazel led the Trojan men's efforts at Furman each of the last two seasons, placing 35th over the 8K course in 2014 and claiming 20th place last year.
Ben Boerma crossed the finish line in 38th place, with classmate Ned Kennedy claiming 52nd and Jesse Patrick placing 67th. John Drummond finished 112th.
