CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Paced by senior Olivia Rish's fourth-place finish, the Anderson women's cross country team opened the season by winning the Royals Cross Country Challenge, hosted by the Queen City Track Club, Friday afternoon.
"Both of our women's and men's teams really showed up to compete today," said Anderson head coach Kevin Eagle. "With only having a six-day notice of this race, they all came in mentally prepared to lay it all on the line and give it 100 percent. Going into the meet, our main goals were to compete no matter the pace, and to simply have fun. We have found out during this pandemic that we cannot take competing for granted."
Rish covered the 6K distance in a personal-best time of 21.58, with the Trojans capturing six of the top-10 spots and eight of the top-12 slots, while posting five career-best times on the afternoon.
Freshman Elise Matthews crossed the finish line in sixth place in a time of 22.19, with classmate Faith Nelson (22.20) just behind in seventh place. Senior Hannah Beach claimed the eighth spot in a personal-best time of 22.47 and freshman Madison Crumley took home ninth place in a time of 22.57. Fellow newcomer Emily Golden (23.09) finished 10th, with freshman Elizabeth Timberlake (23.12) claiming 11th place.
Sophomore Rebecca Ward notched a personal-best time of 23.12 and took home 11th place, while junior Kamryn Osterbind finished 16th in a career-best time of 23.50. Freshman Hagan Wilson (23.55) crossed the finish line in 17th place in a time of 23.56, while sophomore Autumn Bladen rounded out the Trojan contingent in 19th place in a time of 24.09.
"Our women's team ran extremely well in a tight pack for the majority of the race, and it showed by placing 11 in the top 19 places," added Eagle. "It was great to see our young runners competing at the front of the race."
Anderson will get back on the course, Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Eighth Annual North Georgia Cross Country Invitational.
"I am very pleased with today's results and cannot wait to have the athletes compete again next weekend at UNG," concluded Eagle.
