Women's Cross Country | May 31, 2023

The University of South Carolina Aiken had many thrilling moments throughout the action-packed 2022-2023 season. Whether it was on the diamond, the court, the course, the tee box or the pitch, PacerSports.com is going to relive some of those unforgettable highlights that defines the Pacers' spirit a sport at a time.
 
Head coach Marshall Leonard's team began the season with a fourth-place finish at the Augusta Jaguar Invitational. Olivia Robertson led the team with a 5k time of 24:12.28 placing her 20^th. In their first collegiate races, Ali Samaha finished 22^nd with a 25:06.74 and Jourdan Gruber finished 35^th with a 32:11.10. 
 
At the second event of the year, Robertson again led the team with a 10^th-place 23:30.30. Overall, the team recorded a third-place finish at the GMC Brickyard Invitational. 
 
The Pacers finished eighth at the 6k Akiah McMillan Invitation. They also finished 11^th at the Converse Kick-off and Newberry Invitational. 
 
USC Aiken enjoyed many team and individual successes throughout the year; however, the Asics Invitational was the top moment of the season. Every student-athlete ran a collegiate personal-best mark. Robertson ran the 5k event with a time of 21:46.38 placing her 71st. 
 
Kaitlynn Ford was second best on the team running a 23:36.52 and Samaha finished with a 23:42.49. Madison Hart crossed in 23:55.44. Right behind the trio was Milan Simmons with a 24:02.33. Mia Maupin completed the race with a 27:07.94. 
 
In the postseason, the Pacers finished ninth in the PBC Championship. Robertson placed 44^th in the 5k event with a 23:08.40. Sirena Moreno and Hart competed at the NCAA Southeast Regionals. In the 8k event, Moreno crossed the finish line in 32:01.13 and Hart notched a time of 33:03.10. 
 
Postseason accolades were given Moreno as she won the Sportsmanship Award. Maupin, Robertson and Samaha were each named to the PBC Team of Academic Distinction.