ANDERSON, S.C. - Following a two-week layoff, the Anderson University women's and men's cross country teams are slated to return to the Tar Heel State for the fourth time this season to compete in the Lenoir-Rhyne Invitational, hosted by the Bears Saturday morning in Newton, N.C.
The event is slated to start at 9:30 a.m., with the women
competing at a 5K distance for the second straight outing, while
the men's 8K distance marks AU's fifth consecutive meet at that
distance.
With the South Atlantic Conference Championships looming in two weeks, Saturday marks the first time the Trojans have competed at the L-R Invitational, as head coach Randy Greer opted for the trip to the course approximately 10 miles from the Bears' campus in Hickory, N.C.
Two weeks ago, sophomore Olivia Gardner posted her best time of
the season and captured fourth place to help lead the women's squad
to sixth at the Royals Challenge in Charlotte, N.C. After battling
injuries early in the season, senior Sydney Hazel also posted a
season-best effort, finishing 26th, with sophomore Amber Worthy
placing 45th in a season-best time. Freshman Alex Dixon, who has
also paced the Trojans twice this season, crossed the line in 55th,
while sophomore Bari Robinson was just behind in 57th.
Freshman Allison Halperin posted a personal-best time of 20:43.4 en
route to claiming the 68th spot, with sophomore Mia Swiersz taking
87th. Freshman Taylor Morris crossed the line in 95th, while
another freshman, Haylee Love, finished in 104th and sophomore
Grace Gerlock wrapped up the Trojan effort in 119th.
Battling the heat, graduate student Westley Wilson's season-best
effort and 36th-place effort paced the men's squad to 12th at the
Royals Challenge. Sophomore Michael Burch posted a season-best
effort to claim 87th, with sophomore Ben Boerma placing 92nd.
Fellow sophomore Jesse Patrick finished 96th, while senior Joshua
Visi-Clark wrapped up the Trojan contingent in 103rd.
