Gamecocks Starts 2016 Campaign on New Home Course Sat. Morning

Aug. 31, 2016

2016 Carolina Challenge Info | 16 Carolina Challenge College Map | 16 Carolina Challenge HS Map

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina begins its 2016 cross country season on Saturday morning on a new home course, as the Carolina Challenge pits 15 collegiate teams on the Sandhill REC course in the northeast part of Columbia.

The Gamecocks, who return 14 active letter-winners this fall, kick off the season on a tried-and-true course. With the course’s parking entrance located across from the main entryway to The Village at Sandhill shopping center, the Sandhill REC course hosts numerous high school and collegiate races, including the South Carolina High School League state meet each year. The 5K races this Saturday will provide a good first test for the 15 collegiate women’s teams set to run.

Senior Mary Reiser tops the returners for South Carolina, as she has posted top-10 times in program history in both the 5K and 6K, including last year’s SEC Championships finish of 20:45.7, the third-fastest 6K run by a Gamecock. Also back are all five scorers from last year’s SEC Championship team. A crop of 13 newcomers, including 11 freshmen, a sophomore transfer and a graduate student transfer, will push the returners.

Admission is free for fans who want to watch Saturday’s races, which will begin at 9:00 a.m. with the college women’s 5K. The college men’s 5K is set for a 9:40 a.m. start, with the open, 2.2-mile high school race beginning at 10:10 a.m. Fans need to enter the Sandhill REC site at the traffic signal at Promenade Place and Clemson Road. A reminder to all South Carolina students, double points are being offered on the Gamecock Student Rewards app for coming out to Saturday’s event, with a special prize going to a random winner who attends both Gamecock cross country home races this fall.

Carolina Challenge Information

Date: Sat., Sept. 3
Start Time: 9 a.m. (College Women’s 5K); 9:40 a.m. (College Men’s 5K); 10:10 a.m. (Open High School 2.2 mile)
Location: Sandhill REC; Columbia, S.C.
Twitter: @GamecockXC