Sept. 18, 2009
COLUMBIA, S.C. – With one invitational win under its belt, the South Carolina cross country team heads to Rock Hill this weekend to compete in the 23rd annual Asics/Winthrop Invitational. The race will take place Saturday at 10 a.m. on the campus of Winthrop University.
South Carolina, currently ranked 14th in the Southeast Region preseason rankings, will lineup with 13 other schools from North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, including a group of Southern Conference programs that field strong teams. Competing women’s cross country programs include Anderson, Benedict College, Davidson, Elon, Erskine, Mars Hill, Newberry, Paine College, Presbyterian College, VCU, Western Carolina and Wofford.
“We’d obviously like to win,” South Carolina head coach Stan Rosenthal said. “I think that’s a good possibility. Dani Barnes and Beatrice Biwott should be two of the top runners in the race. It’s early in the season so it’s hard to say how everyone’s doing. Based on results from everyone’s first meet, we’re certainly as good as anyone else. Dani and Beatrice are as good as anyone in the race that has raced (so far this season). It may rain, but if the course is dry, I expect faster times this week.”
SOUTH CAROLINA RANKED IN THE REGION
The South Carolina cross country team debuts at No. 14 in the USTFCCCA Southeast Region preseason poll. The ranking marks the first time that South Carolina has been ranked in the preseason poll and matches the top appearances from the 2008 season when the Gamecocks were ranked 14th in the second week of the season.
PROJECTED TOP FIVE GAMECOCK RUNNERS
Beatrice Biwott – Sophomore – Dehydration slowed her at Gamecock Invite; will look to earn her first win of the year
Dani Barnes – Senior – Placed second in season opener with a 45 second PR
Ashley Evens – Junior – Team co-captain finished in Top 15 last year at Winthrop
Laura Pramstaller – Junior – Missed the 2008 cross country season but has opened strong
Tatum Tyler – Freshman – Placed 11th in her first collegiate race
Second Group: Erin Fedewa (Sophomore), Nicole Rheinlander (Sophomore), Chelsea Leroux (Junior)
BARNES AND BIWOTT LOOK TO LEAD AGAIN
Senior Dani Barnes and sophomore Beatrice Biwott were South Carolina’s 1-2 punch at the Gamecock Invitational as Barnes placed second and Biwott placed fifth. Coach Rosenthal expects the two to continue to progress at Winthrop. Barnes set a new PR in her last time out by 45 seconds in her strong push to the finish. Biwott was second for the majority of the race but gave way in the final 400 meters to come in fifth. Both look to have sub-18 times this week.
MEET TO BE STREAMED LIVE FOR FREE
To watch the meet live via video stream, visit www.bigsouthsports.com and register with the Big South Network. The event is free, but registration is mandatory in order to watch.
2008 WINTHROP INVITATIONAL
The South Carolina cross country team claimed an important second place finish at the Asics Winthrop Invitational, finishing in front of Charlotte and Appalachian State, ranked 14th and 15th in the Southeast Region. Three Gamecocks placed in the top 20, with freshman Beatrice Biwott leading the way finishing fifth.
LAST TIME OUT
South Carolina won the Gamecock Invitational with 35 team points Friday, Sept. 4 to claim the title at their home meet for the third time. Senior Dani Barnes placed second and was followed by sophomore Beatrice Biwott (5th), junior Ashley Evens (8th), junior Laura Pramstaller (9th) and freshman Tatum Tyler (11th). Clemson took second at the meet with 49 team points.
