Spartan Cross Country Programs Give Back to Community Hosting Eye Opener
9/1/2012 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Katie Parker, kparker@uscupstate.edu
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The USC Upstate cross country programs hosted the high school edition of the annual Eye Opener Invitational at Milliken Research Park Saturday.
This was the 29th running of the Eye Opener, which has become a Spartanburg tradition. With more than 2,100 male and female athletes from 62 high schools and four states, the Eye Opener is the largest cross country race in the state of South Carolina.
After competing in the college portion of the Eye Opener last night, the Upstate men's and women's cross country teams arrived early this morning to host the high school races. The Spartan student-athletes helped staff the event, handing out water and snacks, assisting with the post-race flow at the finish line, manning course check-points and various other duties.
Hosting the annual Eye Opener is one way the Upstate cross country programs serve the Spartanburg community. This event draws over 5,000 spectators, runners and sports equipment vendors. Events that bring in such a large crowd benefits the local economy as many of these individuals stay in nearby hotels and spend money at other local establishments.
In the International girls' race this morning, T.C. Roberson came in first in the team standings with 66 points. T.C. Roberson's Brooke Gordon finished first with a time of 18:45.54. Wando took second with 103 points and Science Hill High School was third with 116 points.
On the International boys' side of things, Daniel High School took top honors as a team and individually. Daniel's Andre Ivankovic crossed the line first with a time of 15:54.18, while his teammate Gabe Haughey claimed second with a time of 16:08. 28. The pair helped Daniel collect 71 points. Mauldin High School came in second-place in the team rankings with 97 points, while Wando grabbed third with 115 points.
Landrum High School won the girls' championship race, picking up 163 points. Asheville School took second-place with 195 points, while Christ Church was third with 205 points. Caroline Jennings of Christ Church claimed second-place overall with a time of 20:07.33, but Olivia Evans of Carolina Homeschool Cougars came in first-place with a time of 19:39.87.
The championship boys' race went to Jesse C. Carson with 65 points, while East Henderson High School came in second-place with 183 points. East Henderson's Tanis Baldwin finished the race first with a time of 16:19.60. Carolina Homeschool Cougars claimed third-place, collecting 213 points.
In the JV girls' race, Wando and Wade Hampton tied for first-place with 58 points each. Riverside claimed third with 97 points. Despite coming in fifth-place in the team standings, Southside Christian had the top-two finishers as Mary Chandler and Sydney Newsom finished with times of 22:03.52 and 22:17.64, respectively.
Wando continued to impress in the JV boys' race, claiming top honors with 37 points. Wade Hampton came in second with 42 points, while Riverside earned third with 87 points. Logan George of Wade Hampton crossed the line first with a time of 18:05.91.
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