Spartans Migrate North to Face Nationally Ranked Teams
9/27/2012 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Katie Parker, kparker@uscupstate.edu
A-Sun Men's Notes
A-Sun Women's Notes
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The USC Upstate men's and women's cross country teams travel to Bethlehem, Pa., this week to compete in the Paul Short Invitational Friday hosted by Lehigh.
Both Spartan teams will be competing in the Gold race, which is the fastest of the three college race categories at the Paul Short Invite. Upstate will begin with the men's 8K at 11 a.m. Friday followed by the women's 6K at 11:45 a.m.
There are 38 men's teams scheduled to compete at the meet, including three nationally ranked teams. In the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) national poll released Thursday, the Big East Conference's Georgetown was 15th, the Ivy League's Princeton came in No. 17 and the Big East's Villanova took the 22nd spot. The Wildcats defeated the Hoyas in the 2011 Big East Championship.
On the women's side, 40 teams are slated to participate in the Paul Short Invite Friday with three clubs making the most recent USTFCCCA national poll. Georgetown, the 2011 NCCAA Champion, is ranked fourth in the nation, while Providence and Villanova are No. 7 and No. 9, respectively. The Wildcats edged the Friars and the Hoyas for the 2011 Big East team title.
"Paul Short will be a great test for us; it will force us to get out and take some chances," said Upstate associate head coach Carson Blackwelder. "It will prepare our women's team for regionals since it is a 6K. I'm excited to see how our athletes will react to the demands of such a large race with great competition."
In the Spartans last outing Sept. 15 at the Winthrop Invitational, the Upstate men finished sixth overall in the team standing, but came in first among South Carolina schools to win the 2012 state championship title. Senior Gilbert Kemboi (Eldoret, Kenya) took second-place honors with a time of 24:14.75. He was named the South Carolina Intercollegiate Individual Champion. Kemboi went to claim Atlantic Sun Conference Runner of the Week accolades for his efforts, marking his ninth career weekly conference award.
Senior Davey Dennison (Carlisle, Pa.) was the second finisher for the Spartan men at the Winthrop Invite, crossing the line in 25:58.31. For the second-straight meet this season, junior Ross Oden (Salisbury, N.C.) was the third Upstate finisher, coming in 26:26.53, while senior Cameron Thomas (Niceville, Fla.) posted a time of 26:31.03.
The Upstate women came in 16th out of 31 teams at Winthrop, tallying 419 points, while seven Spartans posted personal-bests, climbing the school's all-time records list. Sophomore Jasmine Polite (Goose Creek, S.C.) crossed the line first for the Spartan women, recording an individual-best time of 19:07.28. She ranks sixth in the Upstate record books.
Freshman Anastasia Kolesnitchenko (Boiling Springs, S.C.) crossed the line in19:59.39 for Upstate, while classmate Molly Bliss (Milford, Del.) had a time of 20:09.53, both marks were personal records. Kolesnitchenko climbed to 10th all-time in school history. Senior Hannah Chaney (Brunswick, Ohio) registered a personal-best time of 20:29.88, while freshman Ashleigh Torres (Roanoke, Va.) followed closely with a time of 20:30.49.
Results for the Paul Short Invitational will be posted here immediately following the meet.
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