SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Longwood women's cross country put together a strong performance and edged out a trio of Big South foes at the Upstate Invitational 5K on Saturday morning. The Lancers finished seventh in the 12-team field.
 
Placement/Times (5K)
7. Longwood: 217—Total time: 1:41:34
 
19. Grace Puleo: 19:10.9
44. Caroline Fairbanks: 19:57.2
54. Nicole Pinder: 20:21.1
63. Bailey Deaver: 20:35.1
82. Kiersten Witte: 21:29.5
95. Kathryn Oylear: 22:20.2
97. Rachel Simmons: 22:24.6
98. Aislinn Garcia: 22:25.6
106. Caroline Fritz: 24:50.6
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
Grace Puleo led the way for Longwood with her 19:10.9, and it marked the second straight time she has run a 5K under 20 minutes. She finished 19^th among the 132 runner field.
 
Caroline Fairbanks finished 44^th with a 19:57.2. She broke 20 minutes for the second time this season, equaling her time at the Lancer Pink Invitational.
 
Nicole Pinder posted a 20:21.1 to finish in 54^th at the event. It was her second-fastest 5K of the season after setting a personal best in Louisville two weeks ago.
 
Bailey Deaver posted her fastest 5K as a Lancer, a 20:35.1, that broke her previous personal best by 19 seconds. She finished 63^rd.
 
Kiersten Witte rounded out the scoring group for Longwood, as she ran a new personal best. She shaved 27 seconds off her personal best as a Lancer with a 21:29.5 to finish in 82^nd.
 
WHAT THEY SAID:
 
"The women ran well today!" said Longwood head coach Brooke Craig. "I decided to bring them to this meet so they could get another 5K in before conference and have more head-to-head competition with their conference rivals. The women worked together in packs and raced with confidence. It was a great conclusion to our regular season. They are ready for conference!"
 
"The ladies needed this to preview our conference competition," Craig added. "It's going to be a fight for a strong team place in two weeks, but they are ready for it."
 
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
 
The Lancers edged fellow Big South members Gardner-Webb, USC Upstate and Winthrop. The team was one point ahead of the Runnin' Bulldogs amidst a tight bunch in the middle of the scoring pack.
 
Puleo has cracked the 20-minute mark seven times in her Lancer career. The past two races have been two of her three fastest 5K times in her Longwood career.
 
Deaver's time of 20:35.1 not only was a personal best, but she has set back-to-back personal bests in her past two races. She broke 21 minutes in Louisville two weeks ago before following it up with her time this week.
 
Simmons ran her fastest time of the season at 22:24.6.
 
For Aislinn Garcia, her time of 22:25.6 was her second-fastest 5K as a Lancer and her fastest time since she ran a 22:06 at the Randolph Dual Track Meet in 2020.
 
UP NEXT:
 
With the regular season complete, Longwood will host the Big South Championship on Saturday, Oct. 29 across from the Longwood Athletics Complex.
 
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