CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Paced by sophomore Olivia Gardner's season-best effort, the Anderson women's cross country team finished sixth at the Royals Challenge, hosted by Queens University, Saturday morning at McAlpine Creek Park.
"We ran really well as a team," said Anderson head coach Randy Greer. "But not close to what we are capable of. I thought Olivia [Gardner], Sydney [Hazel], and Amber [Worthy] ran well. And Allison [Halperin] set a personal best."
The 5K event saw Savannah College of Art and Design capture the top spot in the Non-Division I category, while Tennessee Wesleyan took home second place. UNC Club XC finished third, with fellow South Atlantic Conference member Mars Hill placing fourth and USC-Beaufort finishing just ahead of Anderson.
Saturday's meet marked the second time this season that Gardner
has led the Trojan effort, as the Tarpon Springs, Fla. native
crossed the line in fourth with a season-best time of 18:29.6.
Senior Sydney Hazel also posted a season-best effort, finishing
26th in a time of 19:40.7, with sophomore Amber Worthy placing 45th
in a season-best time of 20:11.1. Freshman Alex Dixon (20:28.6),
who has paced the Trojans twice this season, crossed the line in
55th, while sophomore Bari Robinson (20:32.7) 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 in a time of 21:00.6 and freshman Taylor Morris (21:16.0)
crossing the line in 95th. Another freshman, Haylee Love, finished
104th in a time of 21:36.1 and sophomore Grace Gerlock wrapped up
the Trojan effort in 119th in a time of 22:06.6.
Anderson is slated to get back on the course, Oct. 25 at the Lenoir-Rhyne Invitational.
