Sept. 14, 2013

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Behind another strong top-10 performance from junior Meredith Mill, South Carolina finished fourth in the team standings at the 25th-annual Mountain Dew Invitational hosted by the University of Florida.

In the Gamecocks’ first 6K race of the fall, Mill paced the squad with a 21:39.34 clocking, over 45 seconds better than her top collegiate 6K entering the day. Underclassmen took over the scoring from there, with freshmen Mary Reiser finishing 12th overall with a 21:55 mark. Sophomore Anna Todd, who competed in her third race in three weekends, finished third on the team and 23rd in the field of 270 competitors in 22:20.50, a 1:10 improvement from last year.

“We ran well,” said Gamecock assistant track coach over cross country Andrew Allden. “We would have liked to beat more SEC teams,” “but we were pleased to have two people in the top 12. This was Mary’s first ever 6K, and she basically stuck with Meredith for three miles and hung in till the end. Meredith continued to work her way through the field and finished a strong seventh. Anna built upon her win last week with another good outing.”

Freshman Martha McCoy (42nd, 22:43.77) and sophomore Stephanie Berger (49th, 23:02.35) both came in in the top 50 and closed out the scoring. Berger also improved her best time from a year ago by over 40 seconds. Freshman Melanie Ng (54th, 23:06.93) fell just outside the Gamecocks’ top five, while sophomore Christine Kent (62nd, 23:12.26) took the last points from other teams.

The Gamecocks ranked fourth behind fellow Southeastern Conference schools Tennessee and Auburn, who tied in the team standings, and the host Gators. USF came in fifth, 45 points in back of the Gamecocks. Allden mentioned how the freshmen did a good job handling the large field and the longer distance, and he was pleased with the team’s first look at the SEC Championship course.

Senior Penny Boswell (64th, 23:21.65), freshman Sarah Falta (67th, 23:23.24), sophomore Brandy Wybersky (68th, 23:24.27), freshman Brittany Day (70th, 23:24.93) and sophomore Allie Whitley (73rd, 23:31.73) all finished in the top 75. Junior Alex Mullin (88th, 23:54.86) and sophomore Courtney Swink (108th, 24:22.47) rounded out South Carolina’s finishers.

The Gamecocks have next weekend off before competing in the 28th-annual Roy Griak Invitational, hosted by the University of Minnesota.

Mountain Dew Invitational

Mark Bostic Golf Course, University of Florida
Sept. 14, 2013 – Women’s Results

Team
1. Tennessee, 71
1. Auburn, 71
3. Florida, 76
4. South Carolina, 109
5. USF, 154
6. North Florida, 166
7. UCF, 198
8. Florida Atlantic, 212
9. Florida A&M, 225
10. LSU, 246
11. Florida Gulf Coast, 248
12. Miami (Fla.), 266
13. Stetson, 312

South Carolina’s Individual Results
7. Meredith Mill, Jr., 21:39.34
12. Mary Reiser, Fr., 21:55.00
23. Anna Todd, So., 22:20.50
42. Martha McCoy, Fr., 22:43.77
49. Stephanie Berger, So., 23:02.35
54. Melanie Ng, Fr., 23:06.93
62. Christine Kent, So., 23:12.26
64. Penny Boswell, Sr., 23:21.65
67. Sarah Falta, Fr., 23:23.24
68. Brandy Wybersky, So., 23:24.27
70. Brittany Day, Fr., 23:24.93
73. Allie Whitley, So., 23:31.73
88. Alex Mullin, Jr., 23:54.86
108. Courtney Swink, So., 24:22.47