SMC Women's Cross Country Has Strong Showing at 2024 Eye Opener
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Spartanburg Methodist College men's and women's cross country teams began their season at the 2024 Eye Opener hosted by USC Upstate. The women were 12th among college competitors (13th overall) in a field full of competition across the multiple levels of college athletics including seven NCAA Division I schools.
Clemson edged Furman for the team title as the Tigers landed the first three across runners across the finish line. Silvia Jelego edged teammate Judy Kosgei in a photo finish for the individual title. Furman is ranked No. 24 in the USTFCCCA Preseason Poll and the Paladins are No. 3 in the Southeast; meanwhile, Clemson is No. 8 in the Southeast.
The first Pioneer across the line was Sophia Outhous, who covered the 5k course in a personal best time of 19:44.8. Just behind her was teammate Audrey Noel, who posted a time of 19:50.0. Among the accomplishments by Noel that she posted the school's fastest season opening time of freshman and sixth among all of freshman competitors.
The next finisher for SMC was Averi Vance, who clocked a time of 22:49.2 for an improvement of eight seconds from her season-opening performance last year. To round out the top five for SMC were sophomores Bella Shields in 23:08.2 and Polly Addington in 24:39.4.
