Cross Country Opens the 2021 Season with a Pair of Top Ten Finishes in the Eye Opener

Friday, September 3

Spartanburg, S.C.

6:30 p.m.

University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics

Eye Opener

Photo by: Mark Olencki

9/4/2021 11:31:00 AM | Cross Country

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – After competing in just two meets during a condensed spring 2021 season, USC Upstate men's and women's cross country returned to the course Friday night, competing on its home course for the first time since 2019.

The Spartans finished Friday night with a pair of team top-10 finishes on the course at the Roger Milliken Center as the men collected a second-place finish while the women placed sixth at the Eye Opener.

In the men's 8K race, senior Jonathan Johnson notched a top-five finish—his fourth career top-10 finish—placing fourth while senior Jonathan Loy, freshman Logan Patete, and senior Michael Tardella each recorded a top-15 placement, finishing 11^th, 12^th, and 14^th, respectively.

Men's Results (2^nd of 12)
4. Jonathan Johnson – 26:20.2
11. Jonathan Loy – 26:44.5 (PR)
12. Logan Patete – 26:46.0 (PR)
14. Michael Tardella – 27:09.3
17. Jared Keklak – 27:32.7 (PR)
18. Nigel Dos Santos – 27:34.2
25. Carter Sexton – 28:04.6
29. Caleb Bayne – 28:17.2 (PR)
40. Derek Staton – 29:04.5 (PR)

In the women's 5K race, senior Allie Leavitt earned a top-10 finish, placing 10^th. The placement marked the first top-10 finish of her Upstate career, besting her career-best 11^th place finish at the 2019 Upstate Invite.

Women's Results (6^th of 13)
10. Allie Leavitt – 19:34.5
30. Allison Baker – 20:35.8
42. Heaven Allen – 21:07.8
59. Laura Yarborough – 22:03.2
66. Elise Wilcher – 22:50.4
71. Alanie Foster – 23:08.0

Next UP for the Spartans
Upstate returns to the course on September 17, competing at the Firetower Project Open in Boone, N.C.

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