Oct. 9, 2008

After three weeks of hard training and claiming its first regional ranking of the season, the South Carolina cross country team is back in action this weekend. The Gamecocks have a chance to improve their ranking as they head to Orlando, Fla., to compete at the Walt Disney World Cross Country Classic, Sat., Oct. 11. The women’s 5,000-meter race is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m.

The Walt Disney World Cross Country Classic features numerous ranked schools, including UAB, South Florida, Houston and Central Florida. The caliber of the teams competing at the race will give the Gamecocks a chance to better prepare for the SEC Championship race set for Monday, Nov. 3.

This week, South Carolina made its first appearance of the season in the NCAA Division I Cross Country regional rankings, claiming 14th in the Southeast Region. The Gamecocks are enthusiastic about the ranking and ready to put their hard work to the test in Orlando.

“The race this weekend is an important step leading to the SEC Championship race,” head coach Stan Rosenthal said. The field will be our largest this year, with more than 30 teams. This will also be the most ranked teams we have raced this season. The team is very excited to see how we stack up.”