Junior Aja Jackson paced the women's team, who captured the Gamecock Invitational title. |
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Cross Country Sweeps Titles at Gamecock Invitational
Aug. 31, 2007
Columbia, S.C. - The Charlotte 49ers men's and women's cross country teams started their 2007 campaign on the right foot Friday afternoon, claiming matching first-place titles at the Gamecock Invitational at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, S.C. On the men's side, redshirt sophomore Chase Eckard won the race, while junior Aja Jackson took the title for the women's course.
"It's a great way to start off the season," head coach Brad Herbster said.
Eckard, who clocked in at 15:36.37 for the 5K, paced a 49er men's team that swept the top five finishing positions. Running in a pack--and finishing within nine seconds of the race leader--sophomore Alan Ford (15:37.06), freshman Dakota Lowery (15:42.66), sophomore Jordan Rickard (15:44.78) and senior Matt Hipps (15:45.49) rounded out the scoring for Charlotte. The 49ers finished with a combined perfect score of 15 for first place, with the Citadel (A and B teams; 60 and 100, respectively), Charleston Southern (111) and UNC Asheville (115) taking the remaining top team positions.
Jackson, clocking in at 18:02.20 for the women's 5K, led a freshman-driven top five. Freshmen Amanda Goetschius and Keara Thomas came in second and third at 18:04.05 and 18:09.03, respectively. Newcomers Laura McCary finished in the tenth position at 18:54.67, while Kelsey Conroy completed in the course in 19:24.60 for 19th place. Once again, Charlotte easily took the title with a combined score of 35, stomping College of Charleston (60), host South Carolina (83) and Clemson (105).
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The 49ers return to the trail next wewekend at the Eye Opener in Spartanburg, S.C.
