ANDERSON, S.C. – The Anderson University men's and women's cross country teams will head north on Interstate 85 for the first of just two scheduled meets this fall, when the Trojans venture to Charlotte, N.C., for the Royals Cross Country Challenge, which will be hosted by the Queen City Track Club, late Friday afternoon.
The women's race is scheduled for a 4 p.m. start, with the men's race slated for a 5 p.m. start. In addition to the Trojans, the Challenge is expected to feature teams from Belmont Abbey, Brenau, Cleveland Community College, Francis Marion, Life University, Milligan, Montreat and UNC Pembroke.
Despite the disruption created by COVID-19, the Trojans will be competing in Charlotte for the 12th time in 13 seasons, and while the course is not the customary firm and fast McAlpine Creek Park, where most runners from around the region post their personal-best times, the layout is described as "rolling gentle hills with wide corners and footing is a mixture of packed dirt road and mowed grass."
In their last appearance at the Royals Challenge almost exactly a year ago, the AU men finished 14th overall out of nearly 60 teams from across the Southeast, including several NCAA Division I squads.
Then-senior Ty Gleason paced the Trojans with a 68th-place finish, while Daniel Similton finished 110th. Noah McLain and Ben Clark were 116th and 123rd, respectively, with Thomas Sutcliffe just behind in the 124th slot.
Noah Brock crossed the finish line in 138th place, with classmate Michael Burgess claiming 148th place. Junior Philip Quillen was 199th a year ago, while Matthew Burgess and Nic Danielski were 252nd and 265th, respectively.
Hayden Tuten crossed the finish line in 328th place and classmate David Rolon claimed 354th. Brandon Wilson was 368th among the 519 runners who completed the course.
The Trojan women claimed 11th place out of 63 teams a year ago, as they out-paced South Carolina (14th), Lenoir-Rhyne (17th), Charlotte (20th), App State (23rd), Elon (25th), Catawba (26th), Mercer (28th), UNCW (30th), North Greenville (35th), Erskine (37th), Presbyterian (44th), Gardner-Webb (46th) and Limestone (48th).
Olivia Rish led the Trojan effort by crossing the finish line in 40th place, with Rebecca Ward claiming 43rd place. Melea Sangl was 98th, with Olivia Evans and Aubrey Stoddard finishing 110th and 159th, respectively. Kamryn Osterbind claimed 258th place, with Autumn Bladen covering the distance and finishing 312th. Natalie Ardis crossed the finish line in 349th place, while classmate Lydia Gambrel was 369th and Brianna Quartararo finished 460th among the 541 runners who finished the course.
No spectators will be allowed at the site due to coronavirus restrictions.
