SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Longwood cross country had its first taste of racing against Big South competition, and the men and women ran well on Saturday at the USC Upstate Invitational.
 
A total of eight runners set personal bests, and the two teams both finished ahead of three Big South teams in the final standings. It was the final regular-season meet of the fall for the team. The men finished 16^th of 27 teams, and the women were 23^rd out of 32.
 
RESULTS:
 
Men's 8K
 
Team
16. Longwood: 82-84-92-98-115 (128)(130)
 
Individual
105. Clinton Clancy: 26:24.9
108. Jordyn Dillavou: 26:26.9
122. Benjamin Goulet: 26:45.9
132. Saad Khan: 26:56.8 PR
156. Ethan Pettyjohn: 27:15.4
179. Alec Daniel: 27:44.6
183. Misha Wiley: 27:48.0
187. Sam Sager: 27:50.8
195. Christian Reid: 28:01.4
203. Marcus Sosa: 28:10.9
229. Avery Brown: 29:09.5
230. Javier Roldan: 29:13.5
239. Bryce Christian: 29:42.3
252. Andrew Bernhardt: 31:11.9
 
Women's 5K
 
Team
23. Longwood: 88-125-133-136-158 (160)(170)
 
Individual
 
93. Priscilla Keller: 19:14.8
150. Caroline Fairbanks: 20:05.3
162. Haley Slattery: 20:14.9
165. Samantha Bolen: 20:16.1
204. Kathryn Oylear: 21:01.2 PR
206. Bailey Deaver: 21:03.8
225. Aislinn Garcia: 21:37.2 PR
227. Lauren Vick: 21:43.5 PR
233. Kiersten Witte: 21:56.4
249. Kai Wheeler: 23:06.6 PR
255. Rachel Simmons: 23:57.1
256. Caroline Fritz: 23:57.6
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
The men's team ran first, and the top five guys all ran within 51 seconds of each other. In addition, five runners set their personal bests in the 8K.
 
Clinton Yancy led the charge with a 26:24, his personal best time in his debut season at Longwood.
 
Jordyn Dillavou followed a scant two seconds later, and both Benjamin Goulet and Saad Khan crossed the finish line in under 27 minutes. For Khan, his 26:56.8 was a personal best.
 
Ethan Pettyjohn rounded out the scoring with a 27:15.4.
 
Alec Daniel (27:44.6), Misha Wiley (27:48.0) and Christian Reid (28:01.4) all set personal bests as well.
 
The women ran a 5K afterwards, and Priscilla Keller led the way with a 19:14.8. She has been Longwood's top runner in all three events she has run.
 
The team also had its top four runners finish within 62 seconds of each other. Plus, four other runners set personal bests.
 
Caroline Fairbanks was just five seconds off of a 20-minute 5K at 20:05, and she was followed quickly by both Haley Slattery (20:14.9) and Samantha Bolen (20:16.1).
 
Kathryn Oylear (21:01.2) ran a personal best in the 5K for a second time this season, shaving seven seconds off the time she ran at the Lancer Pink Invitational. She also was the fifth and final scoring runner for Longwood.
 
Aislinn Garcia (21:37.2), Lauren Vick (21:43.5) and Kai Wheeler (23:06.6) all set personal bests as well. In the race.
 
WHAT THEY SAID:
 
"The men and women took some chances and stacked up well against conference rivals, with the women beating Presbyterian, USC Upstate and Gardner-Webb while the men beat Presbyterian, Gardner-Webb and Winthrop," said Longwood Head Coach Brooke Craig. "This was our first time seeing teams from our conference this season, and it was a good indicator of what we need to do at the championship in two weeks. The teams are looking strong and are focused on the mission at hand."
 
UP NEXT:
 
Longwood heads to the Big South Championship on Sunday, October 29 at Green Hill Park in Salem, Virginia.
 
#GoWood #HorsePower