Back on its Home Course, Cross Country Ready for the Spartan Invite

Saturday, October 16

Spartanburg, S.C.

9 a.m.

University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics

Upstate Invite

Photo by: Matt Levonick

10/15/2021 3:30:00 PM | Cross Country

Live Results

Saturday's Meet
Upstate Invitational
October 16, 2021 | 9:00 a.m. ET (Women's 5K), 9:45 a.m. (Men's 8K)
Roger Milliken Center | Spartanburg, S.C.
Teams (21): Allen, Bob Jones, College of Charleston, Furman, Gardner-Webb, Johnson & Wales, Life, Mercer, Northeastern Tech, Pfeiffer, Queens, Saint Augustine's, South Carolina State, Spartanburg Methodist, UNC Asheville, USC Upstate, Washington and Lee, Western Carolina, Winthrop, Wofford

Event Preview
After running two straight events away from its home course, USC Upstate cross country returns to the Roger Milliken Center Saturday, hosting the program's largest home meet of the season as 21 teams converge on the Spartans' home course.

Saturday's meet marks a return to competition for the first time since 11 Spartans posted personal-record times at the Live in Lou Cross Country Classic on October 2. Against a field that saw 50-plus teams in each race, the men's team claimed a top-five finish with the women's team placing 35^th.

In the men's race, all 10 Spartans posted personal-record times leading Upstate to a fifth-place finish in a 62-team field. Senior Jonathan Loy paced the Spartans with a 19^th-place finish while senior Jonathan Johnson finished 30^th as the pair claimed Upstate's two top-30 finishes in the 500-plus runner field.

In the women's race, senior Allie Leavitt posted a personal record time for the second consecutive event as she led all Spartan runners with a 35^th-place finish. Behind her on the team leaderboard were freshman Allison Baker and sophomore Elise Wilcher.

The Upstate Invite also represents the Spartans' second opportunity to run its home course in competition after both programs earned top-10 finishes in the Eye Opener to start the 2021 season.

Last Time Out
Men's Results (5th of 62)
19. Jonathan Loy – 25:20.5 (PR)
30. Jonathan Johnson – 25:28.3 (PR)
61. Logan Patete – 25:55.0 (PR)
79. Nigel Dos Santos – 26:04.0 (PR)
107. Michael Tardella – 26:22.0 (PR)
119. Carter Sexton – 26:25.5 (PR)
160. Jared Keklak – 26:46.5 (PR)
204. Derek Staton – 27:10.1 (PR)
210. Caleb Bayne – 27:13.2 (PR)
308. Gabe Herron – 27:55.0 (PR)

Women's Results (35th of 55)
35. Allie Leavitt – 19:05.9 (PR)
184. Allison Baker – 20:34.1
263. Elise Wilcher – 21:03.6
271. Laura Yarborough – 21:08.0
279. Alanie Foster – 21:11.7
286. Heaven Allen – 21:20.3
341. Brawnwyn Koellner – 22:03.7
356. Arianna Krcik – 22:16.2

UP Next for the Spartans
Following the Spartan Invite, Upstate begins its preparations for the Big South Conference Championships with two weeks of preparation ahead of the meet. The 2021 Big South Conference Championships are set for October 29 at High Point.

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