Sept. 24, 2011
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — The South Carolina cross country team competed at the prestigious Roy Griak Invitational on Saturday afternoon, as the Gamecocks finished 24th in the Jack Johnson Gold Race (6K) on the Les Bolstad Golf Course.
South Carolina ran against one of the strongest fields it will see this season with 18 regionally ranked and eight nationally ranked squads participating. With 272 runners in the meet, the Gamecocks needed a strong start, but head coach Stan Rosenthal said his squad was unable to make a push early.
“The girls got buried early, and not getting out at the start of the race really hurt us at the end,” Rosenthal said. “Hopefully next week (at Charlotte) will be another big field. The course will be narrow, so we definitely have to get out in front early.”
Senior Beatrice Biwott led the way for the Gamecocks, finishing 92nd with a time of 22:11.9. Sophomore Penny Boswell was the next highest South Carolina runner as she crossed the finished line in 185th place with a time of 23:16, followed by freshman Meredith Mill (23:28.4, 198th), senior Nicole Rheinlander (23:30.7, 204th), sophomore Liz Locke (23:37.1, 212th), junior Jessica Hartman (24:23.2, 237th), junior Megan Rother (24:33.2, 245th), freshman Sarah Pellegrini (24:34.5, 246th), senior Erin Fedewa (24:54.2, 254th), junior Emma Borowicz (25:09.3, 257th) and sophomore Kelly Newcomb (26:07.6, 264th).
California and Iowa State finished in a tie for first with 128 points, followed by Arizona (131), Michigan State (148) and host Minnesota (182). California’s Deborah Maier won the meet with a time of 20:29.2.
The Gamecocks return to action next Friday in the Charlotte Invitational (5K) at McAlpine Park in Charlotte, N.C. at 4. p.m.
