Oct. 7, 2014
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina hosts its final home meet of the season on Wed., Oct. 8, at Hilton Field on Fort Jackson. The meet features a two-mile race rather than the usual 5K that has been run at previous home meets. The women start at 6 p.m., with the men’s race to follow at 6:30.
Competing with the Gamecocks in the women’s race are Benedict, Charleston Southern, Claflin, Morris, Paine, Savannah State and Vorhees. The men’s race will consist of Benedict, Charleston Southern, Claflin, Paine, Savannah State and Vorhees. Results will be posted on GamecocksOnline.com following the evening’s events.
Admission to Wednesday’s meet is free, and all fans entering Fort Jackson must show a photo ID, proof of car insurance and vehicle registration.
MEET INFO:
Date: Wed., Oct. 8
Start Time: Women’s Race: 6 p.m., ET; Men’s Race: 6:30 p.m., ET
Location: Hilton Field on Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.
RESETTING PERSONAL RECORDS
On Oct. 4, South Carolina sent 12 athletes to the 41st Annual Paul Short Invitational in Bethlehem, Pa., with 10 of them returning home with a new personal record in the 6K. The Gold 6K featured more than 20 teams that were ranked in the Top 15 of their region, including three Top 15 teams nationally and the University of Guelph of Ontario, which won the competition.
CHASING HISTORY
For the third consecutive meet this season, Anna Todd led the Gamecocks as the junior ran the fifth-fastest time in school history at 21:02. Her time is just over 21 seconds shy of teammate Kayla Lampe’s school record, which was set in 2012. Only three Carolina runners have posted a faster time than Todd, with each earning All-SEC honors at one point during their careers.
SUCCESSFUL START
With South Carolina’s win on Sept. 26 at the Charlotte Invitational, the Gamecocks won their third-straight meet for the first time during the 2000s.
TWICE IS NICE
With her individual win at the Charlotte Invitational, Todd grabbed her second win in as many meets after sitting out South Carolina’s first meet of the season. In the process of the win, Todd set a then-personal best in the 6K with a time of 21:58.9, more than 21 seconds faster than her previous best from 2013.
EXPERIENCE RISING TO THE TOP
With 15 freshmen, 13 being true freshmen, on this year’s roster, several of the team’s most experienced runners have been stepping up this season. Todd and fellow junior Stephanie Berger have accounted for the team’s three individual wins. The two, along with junior Christine Kent and sophomore Mary Reiser did not finish outside of the top eight in any of Carolina’s first three meets of the season.
LEARNING FROM EXPERIENCE
The Gamecocks are led by second-year coach Andrew Allden as assistant track coach in charge of distance and cross country, who reunited last year with head track and field coach Curtis Frye after 12 years away from Columbia. Allden brings 28 years of coaching experience to the Gamecocks in regards to training.
UP NEXT
The Gamecocks will head to Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Oct. 17, for the Crimson Classic. The meet will be run on the site of this year’s SEC Championship, which will take place on Oct. 31. The race will be a 5K, rather than a 6K, which will be run at the championships.
DIRECTIONS AND INFORMATION: Fans wanting to come to the free event must have a government-issued photo I.D. for all attending plus proof of car insurance and vehicle registration for the driver to get on the base. The best entrance for fans to enter is the main gate, Gate 2, which enters Fort Jackson from Forest Drive (Exit 12 on Interstate 77). After passing through security in the far-right lane, go one mile on Strom Thurmond Drive before taking a left at the light onto Lee Drive. When the road dead ends, turn right onto Hampton Parkway. The cross country course will be a half mile ahead on the right.
