GREENVILLE, S.C. – Led by junior Allyson Malone's 21st-place finish, the Anderson women's cross country team continued its strong start to the 2017 campaign with a fourth-place showing at the fifth annual Furman Cross Country Classic, which was hosted by the Paladins on the Furman Golf Course.
"The women ran a phenomenal race," said Anderson head coach Kevin Eagle. "Our top seven runners ran a smart race and overall we ran smarter than last week. We went out more controlled today and it showed in the second half of the race. We couldn't be happier."
Competing on the 6K course in a field of 17 collegiate teams, including 11 NCAA Division II squads, the Trojans were behind Lee, Mount Olive and Emory, while finishing ahead of Columbus State, North Greenville, Auburn-Montgomery, Limestone, Mars Hill, Converse and Erskine.
Malone crossed the finish line in a time of 22:25.23, while fellow junior Martha Coleman notched a career-best time of 22:33.50 and finished in 23rd place. Junior Abigail Bozarth also posted a career-best time of 22:36.42 and finished 25th. Freshman Olivia Evans notched a time of 22:52.42 and claimed 29th place, with freshman Hannah Beach taking 54th place in a time of 24:11.79.
Senior Alex Dixon (24:16.18) was 56th, while freshman Olivia Rish finished 67th in a time of 24:41.34. Senior Hannah Sanford placed 72nd in a time of 24:53.61, while sophomore Breck Jones (25:01.04) and freshman Lydia Gambrel (25:07.85) finished 74th and 79th, respectively.
Junior Maddie Buddenberg finished 90th in a time of 25:46.01, while freshman Katherine Lewis was 110th in a time of 26:37.23 and sophomore Emily Olson finished 112th on the strength of a career-best 26:43.06.
Senior Emily Pitts (26:47.60), freshman Joellen Palzer (26:59.28) and freshman Natalie Ardis (29:25.45) claimed 114th, 116th and 139th respectively.
Following a three-week layoff, the Trojans will get back on the course, Saturday, Sept. 30 at the USC Upstate Invitational.
