Gamecocks Finish Fourth in Charlotte
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Oct. 7, 2022) – In the final 5K event of the regular season, South Carolina Cross Country finished fourth overall in the 2022 Royals Challenge with 170 points, led by Svenja Sommer who clocked the fourth-fastest time in program history with a time of 17:33.6.
Sommer bested her previous personal record by a full 31 seconds to finish fifth overall on the leaderboard. In fact, the top six Gamecock runners that competed in the Gold 5K posted personal bests. Gaby Gait-Smith turned in a time of 18:11.5 to finish 13th overall, while captain Katerina Hendrix turned in a time of 18:58.9 to place 50th. Emily Smith (19:06.8), Molly Joseph (19:19.5) and Emily Pierontoni (19:26.2) rounded out the PR marks for South Carolina in the Gold Race.
South Carolina was represented by Kaitlyn Porter and Sarah Neville in the Blue Race. Porter, the former South Carolina swimmer, made her season debut with a time of 19:46.5 to finish eighth in her pool, while Neville posted a time of 20:55.3 to finish 31st.
Milligan captured the podium in the Gold 5K with 75 points, followed by host Queens University with 84 and College of Charleston in third with 150. The Gamecocks finished fourth with 170 points, followed by Anderson with 190 points to round out the top five.
South Carolina will close its regular season schedule on Friday, Oct. 14 when the Gamecocks travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala. to take part in the Crimson Classic. The Crimson Classic will be the lone 6K race of the regular season before South Carolina competes in the SEC Championships on Oct. 28 in Oxford, Miss.
Gold Race
Team Results
1. Milligan – 75 points
2. Queens – 84 points
3. College of Charleston – 150 points
4. South Carolina – 170 points
Individual Gamecock Results
5. Svenja Sommer – 17:33.6*
13. Gaby Gait-Smith – 18:11.5*
50. Katerina Hendrix – 18:58.9*
58. Emily Smith – 19:06.8*
79. Molly Joseph – 19:19.5*
87. Emily Pierontoni – 19:26.2*
97. Savannah Bowers – 19:31.5
105. Brooke Donoghue – 19:38.0
157. Ally Wilson – 20:26.4
166. Jenna Pellizzari – 20:38.3
Blue Race
Individual Gamecock Results
8. Kaitlyn Porter – 19:46.5*
31. Sarah Neville – 20:55.3
* – denotes collegiate 5K PR
