AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken men's and women's cross country teams open the season Saturday at the Koala Classic, which is hosted by Columbia College.
Head coach
Lauren Etheridge is in her second year at the helm of both programs.
Overall, 11 schools will be represented with 184 student-athletes competing.
Per Columbia College guidelines, no fans will be permitted to watch the race.
The women's team will race in the 6k event beginning at 8:15 a.m. USC Aiken is coming off an 11
th-place finish at the PBC Championship at the conclusion of the 2019 season after a one-year hiatus of the program.
Etheridge returns an abundance of talent to the squad in two upperclassmen with experienced leader
Sophie King, who posted a victory at the USC Aiken Invitational a season ago. Junior
Kendra Zavala notched a top-10 finish at the USC Aiken Invitational.
In addition to the two returners, Etheridge added a slew of newcomers to the roster. She inked freshmen
Heather Alverson along with two local standouts in
Eliza Chase and
Elizabeth Colon-Laborde.
Etheridge added fellow USC Aiken student in sophomore
Kacie Abney, who transferred to the school after one semester. This year, the team also bolstered its line-up with fellow all-league volleyball standout
Alli Bell and two-sport standouts in
Paige D'Agostin,
Charlotte Mannella,
Lauren Sigmon and
Kennedy Smith.
The men's squad will partake in an 8k event at 9 a.m. The Pacers are coming off a 10
th-place effort at the PBC Championship at the end of the 2019 campaign after the program was brought back for the first time in nearly 20 years.
The team has a wealth of talent returning with upperclassmen
Juan Diaz,
Kyle Ready,
Kieran Short,
David Weidner and
Joshua Whitley. All have dropped their times from a season ago after setting personal-best marks at the conference meet.
Etheridge inked local product
Julian Salas prior to the 2020 season. The Pacers have also added baseball standout
Leo Horacio to the squad.
At the race, USC Aiken will square off against over 20 schools, including fellow PBC members Augusta and Lander for both teams as well as the Flagler men's squad.
Continue checking back with PacerSports.com for all the latest in USC Aiken men's and women's cross country.
