ANDERSON, S.C. - In her first collegiate outing, freshman Olivia Gardner paced the Anderson women's cross country team to a fifth-place finish at USC Upstate's 30th annual Eye Opener Invitational Friday night at Milliken Research Park.
The field of 12 teams in the 5K event included Belmont Abbey, Brevard, Converse, King, Lenoir-Rhyne, Limestone, Mars Hill, Piedmont, Southern Wesleyan, Spartanburg Methodist and Wingate
""I was very pleased with both teams tonight," said Anderson head coach Randy Greer. "I think we ran about as well at this race as can be expected this time of year. Both teams ran smart, conservative races and we will continue to get better as the season goes on."
Gardner's time of 20:01.56 placed her seventh overall, while junior Sydney Hazel captured 15th in a time of 20:26.91 and freshman Bari Robinson crossed the line in a time of 21:51.71 to finish 32nd.
The Trojans' lone senior, Hannah Robles (21:59.56) crossed the line in 37th, with newcomer Amber Worthy (22:15.57) claiming the 40th spot. Junior Madison Guest finished 53rd with a time of 23:02.46 and sophomore Devan Fisher (23:23.49) rounded out the Trojan contingent in 62nd.
Following a two-week layoff, Anderson will get back on the course Sept. 21 at the Winthrop Invitational in Rock Hill, S.C.
