Cross Country Closes Regional Preparations as Eight Spartans Bring Home Personal Bests at the Big South Championship

Sunday, October 29

Salem, Va.

10:30 A.M. / 11:30 A.M.

University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics

Big South Conference

10/29/2023 2:47:00 PM | Cross Country

SALEM, Va. – Making their final preparations for the NCAA Southeast Regional to be held at Milliken Research Center on Nov. 10, USC Upstate men's and women's cross country faced conference foes at the Big South Cross Country Championships Sunday. The men's team exited the Championship with a fifth-place finish and the women's team exited with a seventh-place finish.

"They ran tough today. Overall, both men and women moved up well throughout the race," said head coach Carson Blackwelder. "While other runners were fading they moved up. I'm proud of their effort today."

In the men's 8K race, Nigel Dos Santos set the pace for the Spartans for the fourth time this season as he finished just shy of his personal best time with a pace of 25:51.3, earning a 23^rd-place finish. Two other Spartans joined Dos Santos among the top 30 finishers as Carter Sexton (26:02.5) and Sam Shimanskiy (26:10.4) crossed the finish line in 28^th and 29^th, respectively. Shimankskiy was one of four runners to pace personal bests at the Big South Championship, being joined by Gabe Herron (26:36.2), Mason Parish (27:00.1), and Eric Perry (27:44.4).

Men's Results (5^th of 9)
23. Nigel Dos Santos – 25:51.3
28. Carter Sexton – 26:02.5
29. Sam Shimanskiy – 26:10.4
33. Gabe Herron – 26:36.2
35. Jared Keklak – 26:49.5
36. Monroe Thompkins – 26:54.2
37. Mason Parish – 27:00.1
50. Derek Staton – 27:39.4
51. Eric Perry – 27:44.4
DNF. Connor Herold – DNF

In the women's 5K race, Jordan Thornton used a personal-best time to lead the Spartans for the second time this season, earning 31^st in the finish order with a time of 19:09.9. Joining Thornton in the top 40 during the race, Heaven (Allen) Bennett posted a time of 19:32.1 as she finished 38^th. Adding to Thornton's personal best time, three additional Spartans ran personal bests at the Big South Champions with Adalie Harrison (20:10.9), Grace Miller (20:45.1), and Gabby Sanchez (21:39.4) claiming the personal bests.

Women's Results (7^th of 9)
31. Jordan Thornton – 19:09.9
38. Heaven (Allen) Bennett – 19:32.1
49. Adalie Harrison – 20:10.9
58. Grace Miller – 20:45.1
61. Maureen Ortiz – 21:02.0
62. Alanie Foster – 21:02.8
63. Grace Glassmeyer – 21:05.8
68. Gabby Sanchez – 21:39.4

Following the Big South Cross Country Championship, the conference announced its annual Postseason All-Conference Teams. Bennett and Keklak each featured on the league's All-Academic teams.

Next UP for the Spartans
As the conference championship has concluded, Upstate now prepares for the NCAA Southeast Regional at its home course at the Milliken Research Center in Spartanburg. The Spartans host the event which commences on Nov. 10.

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