Stone Runs Sixth-Fastest Time In Program History For 5K In Season Opener

FULL RESULTS 

Columbia, S.C. —-South Carolina cross country was back in action Saturday morning in the home opener at the Sandhill REC Course as the Gamecocks finished third out of 12 teams in the Carolina Challenge. Sophomore Heather Stone led the way for the Gamecocks, placing third with a time of 17:48.8. 
 
Stone’s time, her personal best as a Gamecock, was the sixth-fastest 5K finish in Carolina history. Along with Stone, six other Carolina runners (Allie Mueller, Colleen Openshaw, Sarah-Sims McGrath, Anna Stoddard, Cailin Saylor and Kelsey Larkin) finished in the top-20. Seven more Gamecocks (Brooke Wilson, Emily Crounse, Maryah Nasir, Kira Jenkins, Leah Ford, Morgan Lee and Hannah Twine) posted results in the top-30. 
 
Mueller wasn’t too far behind Stone at the finish line, posting a time of 18:34.7 for an 11^th-place finish. Openshaw finished right around the corner with a time of 18:44.3 to finish 12^th. McGrath rounded out the top-15 with a time of 18:48.2. 
 
Running her first time for the Gamecocks, Saylor posted the best time for a Carolina freshman as she finished 17^thwith her time of 18:50.4. Nasir also impressed in her first run at South Carolina, posting a time of 19:01.6 to finish 25^th. Jenkins, a fellow freshman, finished close behind with a time of 19:09.4 to finish 26^th. 
 
Full Team Results – Division 1 Women’s 5K

1. East Carolina
2. Clemson
3. South Carolina
4. Georgia Southern
5. Winthrop
6. Gardner-Webb
7. Coastal Carolina
8. South Carolina State

 
Full South Carolina Results
Heather Stone – 17:45.8 (3^rd)
Allie Mueller – 18:34.7 (11^th) 
Colleen Openshaw – 18:44.3 (12^th) 
Sarah-Sims McGrath – 18:48.2 (15^th) 
Anna Stoddard – 18:50.0 (16^th) 
Cailin Saylor – 18:50.4 (17^th) 
Kelsey Larkin – 18:56.9 (20^th) 
Brooke Wilson – 18:57.5 (22^nd)
Emily Crounse – 18:59.3 (23^rd)
Maryah Nasir – 19:01.6 (25^th) 
Kira Jenkins – 19:09.4 (26^th) 
Leah Ford – 19:15.5 (28^th)
Morgan Lee – 19:21.9 (31^st)
Hannah Twine – 19:28.7 (34^th) 
Rachel Hensler – 19:47.3 (40^th) 
Morgan Moseley – 20:05.2 (44^th)
Lyndsey Fowler – 21:34.8 (54^th)
Sierra Biber – 21:35.1 (55^th) 
Haley Dietsch – 22:28.5 (63^rd) 
 
Quotable – Heather Stone
“I was happy with how I ran for the first race. Got the first-race jitters out. I ran better than I expected for the first meet.” 
 
Up Next
The Gamecocks will be back in action two weeks from now in Rock Hill, S.C., for the 35^th Invitational at Winthrop. Continue to check with gamecocksonline.com for more information on the Gamecocks.