Sept. 5, 2015

Results | Photo Gallery

COLUMBIA, S.C. – It would come down to the last possible runner, but the depth of the South Carolina cross country team would pay off Saturday morning at the Carolina Challenge. The Gamecocks put six runners in the top ten and held off Coastal Carolina to win the overall meet with 28 points. The Chanticleers finished with the top two runners and 32 points overall for second place.

“Always nice to start the season off with a win, to me the way I grade this was Coastal was 16th in the region last year and we were 18th, so its nice to step up and beat them,” said Coach Andrew Allden. “I felt like they ran quite well, but we competed well against them. Our goal was to break up their top three, then pound a lot of people in before they got to their number five and we were able to do that.”

In the debut of its new course at Weston Lake, the Gamecocks were led throughout by Mary Reiser. The junior would cross third overall in 18:51.14, combating a challenging course that featured soft-sand climbs and tight straightaways.

“I didn’t know what to expect, I knew it would be sandy and hilly and I was a surf lifeguard over the summer, so I’m used to the sand,” Reiser said after the race. “It was kind of hilly and it was something to contend with, but I just went with it and had fun.”

She was followed by Hannah Giangaspro in fourth (18:59.54), but Coastal Carolina would round out the top five with its third runner. The Gamecocks would ultimately claim the race thanks to a consistent pace from their depth. Ashley Miller and Kaylee Wessel came sixth and seventh, respectively, and Wessel shattered her 5K personal best and earned the admiration of her coach.

“I think the biggest breakthrough of the weekend was Kaylee Wessel, who honestly showed what going home and training hard over the summer and coming back ready to go can do for you,” Allden said.

Other Gamecocks in the top ten overall were Allie Sprague (8th; 19:20.42) and Monica York (9th; 19:26).

The Gamecocks will have a weekend off before heading upstate to race in the Winthrop Invitational. The 5K race will feature even more regional rivals, and begins Saturday morning.