Men's Team Secures Third-Best Finish in Program History at the Event Finishing 23rd; Allie Leavitt Leads Women's Team at the NCAA Southeast Regional

Friday, November 12

Louisville, Ky.

11 a.m.

University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics

NCAA Southeast Regional

Photo by: Matt Levonick

11/12/2021 4:52:00 PM | Cross Country

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Competing for the final time this season, USC Upstate cross country wrapped up the "postseason" portion of its schedule Friday afternoon at the 2021 NCAA Southeast Regional at E.P "Tom" Sawyer State Park in Louisville, Ky.

Finishing 23^rd overall, the men's team brought home Upstate's third-highest finish at the NCAA Southeast Regional in program history, claiming the top finish for the program since placing 25^th in 2016.

"The men stayed focused executed their race plans," said head coach Carson Blackwelder. "A lot of PR's for the 10K distance."

Slotting atop the men's lineup for the fifth time this season was senior Jonathan Johnson (31:54.5) who placed 112^th—the highest finish for a Spartan since Dorian Jones (97^th) in 2017. Seeing each Spartan finish in the top-200, Friday's race marked the first NCAA Southeast Regional with the occurrence for the program since 2016.

Men's Results (23^rd of 30)
112. Jonathan Johnson – 31:54.5
156. Jonathan Loy – 32:47.8
165. Michael Tardella – 33:14.8
178. Nigel Dos Santos – 33:39.2
179. Logan Patete – 33:44.9
190. Carter Sexton – 34:20.4
194. Jared Keklak – 34:29.6

On the women's side, senior Allie Leavitt returned to the top of the Spartan contingent as she finished 192^nd with a time of 24:08.3. She notched the top finish for a Spartan runner at the NCAA Southeast Regional since Krysta Pierstorff (181^st) in 2018.

Freshman Allison Baker (24:41.3) and senior Brawnwyn Koellner (26:10.6) joined Leavitt among the top three Upstate finishers, placing 204^th and 219^th, respectively, as the Spartans finished 31^st as a team.

Women's Results (31^st of 31)
192. Allie Leavitt – 24:08.3
204. Allison Baker – 24:41.3
219. Brawnwyn Koellner – 26:10.6
221. Laura Yarborough – 26:12.0
222. Heaven Allen – 26:39.6
X. Elise Wilcher – DNF

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