Oct. 1, 2015

BETHLEHEM, PA. – After giving its starters a week off from competition, the South Carolina cross country team will see its biggest race of the season this weekend as it travels north for the Paul Short Invitational. The meet, hosted by Lehigh, will be the team’s first 6K course and features many solid teams from all over the east coast.

Headlining the race will be fourth-ranked Georgetown, but the Gamecocks will also have to contend with a Johns Hopkins team that is ranked number one in Division III and a handful of Division I schools that rank in the top 15 of their respective regions.

WEEKEND INFORMATION
Date: Friday, Oct. 2
Start Time: Open Women’s 6K – 10:15 a.m | College Women’s Gold 6K ââ’¬” 11:45 a.m.
Location: Bethlehem, Pa.
Facility: Goodman Cross Country Course
Live Results: Live Results
2015 Media Guide

Last week, the team ran seven student-athletes in the USC Open two-mile race at Weston Lake Recreation Area last Wednesday. South Carolina would put six of its seven in the top eight to cruise to the easy win. Freshman Allie Mueller won the event in a time of 12:02.67, beating out teammate Anna McElrath (12:25.84).

In their last major race, the Gamecocks ran at the Winthrop Invitational and finished second overall in the team competition. Among the 15 Gamecocks running, 13 recorded season bests and six veterans set new career best times. Mary Reiser would be the team’s top finisher at second overall in a field of 139 runners. It was Reiser’s second top-three finish in as many races, as the junior crossed in 18:22.

Monica York would be second on the team and rounded out Carolina’s finishers in the overall top ten. Her time of 18:42 was good for seventh and set a new personal best for the sophomore. Emily Harding saw her first action of the season and would cross 11th overall (18:58) to also set a personal best.

Also reaching new bests on Winthrop’s Farm Course Saturday were Allie Sprague (19:05.8), Kaylee Wessel (19:10.4; her second PR in as many races), Sarah Taylor (19:20.2) and Meri Heneage (19:44.4).

Admission to the 42nd Paul Short Run is free and parking is $5 per car. Event programs, featuring meet information and a list of all competing teams will be on sale for $3. Concessions will be available in Goodman Stadium throughout the course of the day. For the safety of all fans and participants, smoking and alcoholic beverages will not be permitted near the racing area.

Fans can follow @LehighPaulShort on Twitter for race day results and important announcements. The Gamecocks will also send selected runners to the South Carolina State Open down in Orangeburg, S.C. for a 5K race on Saturday. GamecocksOnline.com will have all the news and results from this weekend of competition.