Gamecocks Ready for Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (Oct. 2, 2025) – For the first time since 2018, South Carolina Cross Country will compete in the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational at Burke Golf Course in South Bend, Ind.

The Gamecocks will race in a 5K tomorrow in both the Blue and Open Division, at 9:50 a.m. and 11:10 a.m., respectively. Results for Friday’s race can be found here.

PARTICIPATING TEAMS
There will be 20 teams competing in the Blue Division at 9:50 a.m., including the No. 10 ranked squad in the country and the host of the event, Notre Dame. There are a total of 16 teams that are ranked inside their respective Top 15 regional rankings, including three out of the Southeast Region: South Carolina (No. 5), Liberty (No. 9) and Charlotte (No. 12). The Great Lakes Region has the most entries with six, led by the top-ranked Irish.

PUSHING THE PACE
South Carolina is coming off back-to-back podium finishes, with eight runners either finding or moving up in their spot on the Top 20 program times. The Garnet & Black captured the Covered Bridge Open title in Boone, N.C. before finishing bronze at the Adidas XC Challenge in Cary, N.C. in the last outing.

The Gamecocks last competed in the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational in 2018, finishing sixth overall.

LINING UP FRIDAY
South Carolina will send 12 student-athletes to represent the Garnet & Black in South Bend this weekend. Leading the pack will be Teresa Cherotich and Anya Arroyo, who continue to move up the program leaderboard after running the second and third fastest 5K times in program history the last time out. Joining them will be: Jade Buridon, Cate Conklin, Salma Elbadra, Mary Frances Iseman, Hattie Jennings, Eline Mast, Allie Matasich, Abir Reffas, Emma Torbert and Abigail White.

Jennings, Mast and Matasich are slated to run in the Open Division at 11:10 a.m., while the remaining nine runners will kick things off in the Blue Division at 9:50 a.m.