FORT JACKSON, S.C. - USC Aiken freshman Nicole Maitland finished second in her first collegiate race, leading the Lady Pacers to a second-place finish at the season-opening USC Gamecock Invitational at Fort Jackson. USCA competed in the Division II race, finishing just one point behind Coker for first place. UNC Charlotte won the Division I race, which was hosted by the University of South Carolina.

USC Aiken finished with 40 points, a point behind Coker but 28 points clear of fellow Peach Belt Conference member Francis Marion. The Lady Pacers also finished ahead of UNC Pembroke as the highest conference finisher in the field.

Maitland led the Lady Pacers with a time of 20:32.87, finishing just over five seconds behind UNC Pembroke's Ivy Ramsey for first place. Sophomore Jani Linde was the second USCA runner to cross the finish line, doing so in 21:25.77 for fifth place. 

Juniors Renea Marshall (22:08.02) and Alley Dachenhaus (22:10.70) finished in a pack of runners in tenth and 13th place respectively. Freshman Maggie Blair finished the race in 20th with a time of 23:04.81.

USC Aiken will be in action again on Saturday, September 8, at the 24th Eye Opener Invitational in Spartanburg, S.C.

2007 USC Gamecock Invitational
Hilton Field, Fort Jackson, S.C.
1. Coker College 39
2. USC Aiken 40
3. Francis Marion 68
4. UNC Pembroke 75
5. Coker College B 104

USCA Individual Results
2. Nicole Maitland 20:32.87
5. Jani Linde 21:25.77
10. Renea Marshall 22:08.02
13. Alley Dachenhaus 22:10.70
20. Maggie Blair 23:04.81.