ANDERSON, S.C. - With the season looming on the horizon, the Anderson University men's and women's cross country teams are set to open the campaign under the lights Friday night at the Royals Twilight Meet in Charlotte, N.C.
The meet, hosted by third-year South Atlantic Conference-member
Queens, will have a unique format, as the event is slated to start
at 8 p.m., with a festive atmosphere surrounding the runners as
they compete under the lights.
The Trojan women's squad, tabbed third in the SAC Coaches' Preseason Poll and ranked sixth in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Regional Preseason Rankings, is dominated by five veteran juniors and four sophomores who have gained a familiarity with the courses around the region and have competed in Charlotte on six occasions over the last two seasons alone.
Three of the returning letterwinners earned Second-Team All-South Atlantic Conference honors a year ago, with sophomores Haylee Love and Alex Dixon, along with junior Olivia Gardner capturing the accolades.
Love became just the second newcomer in school history to earn SAC Freshman of the Year honors, after Lydia Davis garnered the honor in 2010. Gardner has paced the Trojans on seven occasions over the past two seasons, while Dixon paced the Trojan effort at both the 49er Invitational and the Royals Twilight in Charlotte a year ago.
Nearly mirroring the women's team, the men's squad features five
returning letterwinners, including four juniors and sophomore
standout Mason Hazel. Hazel, who became the first Trojan runner to
bring home SAC All-Freshman honors since 2010, finished 11th at
last year's Royals Twilight. Ben Boerma paced AU by claiming 10th a
year ago in Charlotte.
