Oct. 16, 2011
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — The South Carolina cross country team ran in its last regular season meet on Sunday in the Indiana State Pre-National Invitational.
Carolina finished the day in 37th after a grueling 6K race on the LaVern Gibson Championship Course at the Wabash Valley Family Sports Center, where the 2011 NCAA Cross Country Championships will be held on Nov. 21. The Gamecocks saved their toughest meet for last as they competed against a field that included four nationally ranked and 29 regionally ranked squads.
South Carolina was without three of its top seven runners on Sunday, as senior Beatrice Biwott and sophomores Scola Jepngetich and Liz Locke all missed the race due to either injury or illness. Senior Sara Hartley led the way for the Gamecocks, finishing 152nd with a time of 23:14. Senior Nicole Rheinlander placed 222nd with a time of 24:02, while junior Emma Borowicz (24:47), freshman Meredith Mill (24:47), junior Jessica Hartman (24:52), sophomore Penny Boswell (24:55) and junior Megan Rother (25:41) also competed for Carolina on Sunday.
Florida State won the meet with 46 points, followed by Georgetown (99), Michigan (158), Colorado (160) and Cornell (161). Risper Kimaiyo (UTEP) claimed first with a time of 20:19.
The Gamecocks now turn their focus to the SEC Championships, which will be held on Oct. 31 in Maryville, Tenn. The women’s 6K race is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. at Lambert Acres Golf Club.
