Women's Cross Country | October 19, 2023

AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken women's cross country team is ready for the upcoming PBC Championship.

The race will take place in Gainesville, Ga., and will be hosted by the University of North Georgia.

The Pacers have posted back-to-back ninth-place efforts while taking eighth in 2020 at the PBC Championship.

Head coach Marshall Leonard's team has put together a pair of top-five finishes on the season with a third-place finish at the Blue Bear Invitational and a fourth-place finish at the Akiah McMillan Invitational. 

In just his second year with the program, Leonard has put together a formidable roster that continues to impress each time they are at a meet.

Led by two-time PBC Runner of the Week Tess Studley, USC Aiken will look to improve upon last year's finish. 

Fellow newcomer Taylor Joop has experience at postseason races. The junior college All-American has been an outstanding addition to the team this season. 

Studley has the second-best time per student-athlete while Joop's time is the fourth best per student-athlete in the school's 6k history. Studley's performance at the Royals XC Challenge was the fifth-best time in school history. 

The talented squad does not have a senior on the roster but a pair of upperclassmen – Madison Hart and Olivia Robertson – along with sophomore Kaitlynn Ford, will bring tremendous experience to the race for their teammates.

Newcomers Alaynah Guthrie, Bailey Kirkland, Olivia Moriates and Amaiyah Smith have put together solid times this year. Each has posted personal-best marks and will look to do so again.

With a solid core continuing to push one another at the meet, the Pacers could impress teams in the league with a solid showing. 

"The team is very excited about running in the PBC Championships, and they are looking to perform well," Leonard said. "Some of the women have been dealing with minor injuries and have been working hard with the head athletic trainer to get back on the course.  We have seen some great individual performances this season, which have helped the team place well in the races that we competed in. Everything is going to fall into place at the conference meet, and I look forward to seeing them do well."

The race will start at 9 a.m.