GREENVILLE, S.C. – Paced by senior Olivia Gardner's sixth-place finish, the Anderson women's cross country team finished fourth among non-NCAA Division I schools at the fourth annual Furman Cross Country Classic, hosted by the Paladins Saturday morning at the Furman University Golf Course.
Competing in a field of 18 non-Division I NCAA collegiate teams, the Trojans improved on their fifth-place finish from a year ago on the always challenging 6K course.
Gardner, who led the Anderson effort last year by finishing 24th, slashed more than a minute from her time a year ago and crossed the finish line in 22:50.46.
Junior Haylee Love trimmed more than 68 seconds from her time last season and claimed 12th in a time of 23:03.51. Fellow junior Alex Dixon placed 21st after cutting nearly a minute and a half off her time at last season's event by crossing the line in 23:31.76.
Sophomore Abigail Bozarth was faster by more than seven seconds (24:14.87) and claimed the 39th spot, with freshman Breck Jones just behind in 40th place after turning in a time of 24:16.08. Senior Grace Gerlock improved her time by 44 seconds from last season (24:19.28) and finished 42nd, with sophomore Martha Coleman just behind in 43rd in a time of 24:20.35.
Sophomore Maddie Buddenberg took the 53rd slot in a time of 24:55.49, which proved to be more than a minute faster than a year ago. Newcomer Morgan Bridges placed 54th in a time of 24:58.57, while senior Mia Swierzs was 61st after posting a time of 25:15.98. Freshman Rebecca Faircloth notched a time of 25:29.81 and crossed the line in 69th place, with senior Amber Worthy finishing 93rd in a time of 26:45.95. Newcomer Emily Olson rounded out the Trojan contingent in 143rd in a time of 29:54.98.
In a preview of the NCAA Southeast Region Championships in early November, the Trojans will travel to Montevallo, Ala., next Saturday for the Falcon Classic.
