Oct. 1, 2009
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina cross country team returns to action Friday for the first time in two weeks when Coach Stan Rosenthal’s team heads to McAlpine Park in Charlotte for the Charlotte Invitational. The race is scheduled to begin at 4:15 p.m. and is one of two races remaining before the SEC Championships.
Hosted by Charlotte University, the 5K race will feature teams from the region that include previously ranked Clemson, USC Upstate and the host 49ers, a team picked to finish second in the Atlantic 10 conference this year. The Gamecocks will welcome the strong competition after the SEC Preview meet in Oxford, Miss., last week was cancelled due to weather. This will be the first competition for South Carolina since winning the Winthrop Invitational on Sept. 19. However, the Gamecocks have responded to the delay with strong training.
“We originally planned to run our `B’ team at this meet,” Rosenthal said. “Now we’ll take the full team so we can get a look at them. We’re lining up everyone who’s healthy. Someone’s going to have to step up for us this week because it is a fast course with good competition. The course only has one hill so I expect to see some PR’s.”
SOUTH CAROLINA RANKED IN THE REGION
South Carolina is ranked No. 13 in the South Region in the latest poll released by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. The ranking is an improvement of one spot from the preseason ranking two weeks ago, which at No. 14 was the highest preseason ranking in program history.
PROJECTED TOP FIVE GAMECOCK RUNNERS
Dani Barnes – Senior – Won the Winthrop Invitational to continue her strong senior season
Beatrice Biwott – Sophomore – Placed second at Winthrop Invitational to improve from season opening meet
Laura Pramstaller – Junior – Missed the 2008 cross country season but has opened strong
Tatum Tyler – Freshman – Freshman has been a top five runner in both races
Erin Fedewa – Sophomore – Strong runner will look to remain consistent
Second Group: Nicole Rheinlander (Sophomore), Chelsea Leroux (Junior), Sara Hartley (Freshman), Laura Beggs (Freshman)
STEPPING IN FOR EVENS
Junior Ashley Evens will miss the Charlotte Invitational, but a handful of Gamecocks are ready and willing to step up this week in competition. Junior Chelsea Leroux and freshmen Sara Hartley and Laura Beggs have had strong training sessions this week and will look to have strong performances with the hope of cracking the top five.
RUNNING IN THE SUN
Friday’s 4:15 p.m. start time will be the first afternoon race for the Gamecocks. The season opener had a 7 p.m. start and the Winthrop meet began at 10 a.m. Running in the sun, the team will have to prepare differently than they have in the past, and proper hydration is something Coach Rosenthal expects his team will need to work on to see strong results.
LAST TIME OUT
South Carolina’s cross country team raced to their second victory in two races this season with the team win at the Asics/Winthrop Invitational. Running against the top Southern Conference teams, the Gamecocks followed the one-two punch of senior Dani Barnes and sophomore Beatrice Biwott to score 46 points to Davidson’s 53 and Elon’s 56. The victory runs their record to 14-0 against opponents for the 2009 season.
