Eleven Spartans Run Personal Record Times; Men Place Fifth in 62-Team Field as Cross Country Wraps at the Louisville Classic

Saturday, October 2

Louisville, Ky.

10 a.m.

University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics

Louisville Classic

Photo by: Matt Levonick

10/2/2021 10:53:00 PM | Cross Country

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Facing one of the largest fields it will see throughout the season, featuring 50-plus teams and hundreds of runners, USC Upstate cross country didn't let the larger event field deter it as the program competed at the Live in Lou Cross Country Classic at E.P. Sawyer State Park in Louisville, Ky.

Propelled by each of its 10 runners posting personal-record times, the men's team took home a top-five finish, placing fifth in the 62-team field. In a race featuring 500-plus runners, seniors Jonathan Loy and Jonathan Johnson claimed top-30 finishes to pace the Spartans, placing 19^th and 30^th.

"The men put it out there today and gave it everything they had, said head coach Carson Blackwelder. "They were focused and ready for a challenge."

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)

In the women's race, senior Allie Leavitt posted a personal record time for the second consecutive event, racing to a 35^th-place finish. Behind Leavitt on the team leaderboard were freshman Allison Baker and sophomore Elise Wilcher

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
After competing on the road for two consecutive events, Upstate returns home to the Roger Milliken Center for the Upstate Invite on October 16.

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