Sept. 2, 2005
Columbia, S.C.- South Carolina Cross Country opened their 2005 season with an impressive runner-up finish at the Gamecock Invite at Owens Field on Friday. The Gamecocks, who finished two athletes in the top-10, totaled 47 points for a second place finish behind Clemson, who totaled 45 points for the win. Western Carolina finished third with 102 points, while UNC Pembroke finished first in Division II action with a total of 23 points.
Sophomore Rebecca Chain led the Gamecock pack with a strong 5k run, finishing third with a time of 19:04. Representing a talented freshman class was Alyse Shayer, who was the number two runner for the Gamecocks with a seventh place finish and time of 19:29, followed by Laura Regensburg in 11th place (19:37) and Anna Petrov in 13th (19:39). Junior Karen Wigal finished 20th with a time of 19:55.
“The women fought hard,” said USC Cross Country Coach Stan Rosenthal. “It’s always tough to lose by such a slim margin to anybody. We’re going to work hard and keep getting better and take it one competition at a time. Hopefully next week we’ll come out on top.”
Clemson’s Jenny Barton won the 5k with a time of 18:33, while Tiger Casey Phillips finished second with a time of 18:55.
Also finishing for the Gamecocks was Nicki Breves (20:07), Theresa Verostek (20:10), Megan Robers (20:25), Kelsey Bristol (20:25), Jessica Franklin (21:03), Ashley Cruse (21:04), Caitlin McGroerty (21:09), Julie Reale (21:25), Jackie Vignos (21:49), Lauren Jaynes (22:12), and Becky Woods (22:13).
In men’s action, Western Carolina University finished first with a total of 36 points, while The Citadel finished second with 46 and College of Charleston in third with 48 points. Claming the title for the men was Western Carolina’s Dan Fassinger with a time of 15:33, while Adam Puett came in second with a time of 15:34. In Division II, UNC Pembroke finished claimed the win with a total of 28 points.
The Gamecocks will head to the upstate next week, hoping to even the score with a victory at the Clemson Invitational on Saturday, September 10th at 9 a.m.
