ANDERSON, S.C. – After establishing themselves as one of the top-tier teams in the Southeast Region, the Anderson women's cross country team is set for its' second consecutive appearance at the NCAA National Championships, Saturday afternoon in Pittsburgh, Pa.
This year's nationals will be hosted by Slippery Rock University at the Bob O'Connor Golf Course at Schenley Park in the Steel City, with the women's 6K race set for a 12:15 p.m. start.
The Trojans, who earned their second straight berth on the national stage after finishing third at the NCAA Southeast Regionals in Georgia, were ranked fifth in the latest U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association's (USTFCCCA) Southeast Regional Rankings.
Led by then-senior Haylee Love's 53rd-place finish, AU finished 30th a year ago in Evansville, Ind., with Olivia Evans crossing the finish line in 160th place, while Allyson Malone finished 187th. Abigail Bozarth, who has paced the Trojans in every race this season, finished 195th at last year's NCAA Championships. Hannah Beach rounded out the Trojan contingent last year by finishing 234th.
With AU runners capturing the top five spots and seven of the top nine slots, the Trojans opened this season by dominating Southern Wesleyan's Warrior Invitational in mid-September and followed up two weeks later with a strong runner-up showing at the Sixth Annual North Georgia Invitational in a preview of the NCAA Southeast Regional course.
In the first of two meets in October, the Trojans finished 12th overall and eighth among NCAA D-II teams at the ninth annual Royals Cross Country Challenge in Charlotte, N.C., while previewing the National Championship course by competing at the Rock Pre-National meet, which was hosted by Slippery Rock on Oct. 20. Bozarth claimed 28th place to lead AU to a ninth-place finish on the Schenley Park course. Freshman Melea Sangl finished 55th, with Evans crossing the line in 61st place. Sophomore Olivia Rish brought home 79th place, while junior Martha Coleman and Malone finished 90th and 108th, respectively. Sophomore Lydia Gambrell finished in 109th place.
AU opened the month of November by hosting the 26th South Atlantic Conference Championships in Spartanburg, S.C. and claimed second place behind preseason favorite Queens. Five Trojans posted personal-best times at the event, as AU equaled its highest finish since winning the title in 2010 and 2011. Bozarth nearly posted a personal-best time, while notching Second-Team All-SAC honors for the second straight year, with Evans also capturing Second-Team All-SAC honors.
Two weeks ago, the Trojans qualified for their second appearance at nationals in as many years, as the Black and Gold claimed third place – behind Queens and Flagler – and in front of perennial regional powerhouse Mount Olive. The trio of Bozarth, Sangl and Evans garnered all-region recognition.
MEET HOMEPAGE
LIVE COVERAGE
• Twitter - @PSACTF
• Live Video (Pay-per-view provided by FloTrack)
DIRECTIONS
• Location: Bob O'Connor Golf Course at Schenley Park (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
• GPS Address: 5370 Schenley Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15217
• Google Directions
PARKING AND ADMISSION
• Parking is available on Schenley Drive, Darlington Drive and West Circuit Road
• Parking and admission cost is $10 per car (same charge regardless of number of individuals in vehicle)
