Nov. 10, 2011
COLUMBIA, S.C. — After being idle for a week following the SEC Championships, the South Carolina cross country team returns to action on Saturday at the NCAA Southeast Regional meet in Louisville, Ky.
The women’s race is slated to begin at 11:15 a.m. on the 6K course at E.P. `Tom’ Sawyer State Park.
BREAKING DOWN THE FIELD
Including the Gamecocks, 39 teams have entered to compete in the meet. No. 20 NC State, No. 21 Virginia and No. 25 North Carolina are the three nationally ranked squads on the field. Below is a list of schools running on Saturday.
Wake Forest
Louisville
Appalachian State
Richmond
Western Kentucky
Wofford
Virginia Tech
East Carolina
Liberty
Virginia
South Carolina
UNC-Greensboro
Davidson
Winthrop
North Carolina St.
Va. Military Institute
Kentucky
UNC-Wilmington
Elon
Murray State
High Point
Campbell
William and Mary
Western Carolina
Eastern Kentucky
Gardner-Webb
USC Upstate
UNC-Asheville
Clemson
Charlotte
Coastal Carolina
Col. of Charleston
Furman
Duke
Morehead State
Longwood
George Mason
James Madison
North Carolina
SHORT-HANDED
The Gamecocks enter Saturday with a thin lineup after several student-athletes have missed significant time over the last half of the season due to either injury or illness. Senior Beatrice Biwott, sophomore Penny Boswell, senior Sara Hartley, sophomore Scola Jepngetich, senior Nicole Rheinlander and junior Megan Rother are penciled in to race for South Carolina.
Two of the Gamecocks’ top five will miss Saturday’s meet, as freshman Meredith Mill (illness) and sophomore Liz Locke (injury) have been ruled out. Locke injured her Achilles by stepping in a hole on one of her runs.
THE COURSE
This marks the third straight year the course at E.P. `Tom’ Sawyer State Park has hosted the NCAA Southeast Regional. The park also hosted the 2006 and 2007 NCAA Southeast Regional meets. The 369-acre park is on the outskirts of the Louisville metropolitan area. For a course map click here.
LAST TIME AT NCAA SOUTHEAST REGIONAL
The Gamecocks claimed 18th place at the NCAA Southeast Regional meet last season at E.P. `Tom’ Sawyer State Park. Beatrice Biwott led the way with a 48th-place showing in a then-PR of 21:38.
Carolina produced a top-15 finish at the 2009 NCAA Southeast Regional meet in Louisville. Biwott also led the Gamecocks on that day with a 57th-place finish.
EVENT INFORMATION
Admission to the event is free, but fans will be charged $5 for parking. The awards ceremony will take place after the completion of both the men and women’s meets.
