Women's Cross Country | September 15, 2023

AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken women's cross country team is No. 10 in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Southeast Region poll.

It marks the first time in school history the team has been ranked in the weekly poll.

Head coach Marshall Leonard's team is coming off a third-place finish at the Blue Bear Invitational. The squad has been led by two-time PBC Runner of the Week Tess Studley and fellow newcomer Taylor Joop. Both student-athletes garnered top-10 efforts at the Blue Bear Invitational.  

Wingate is first in the region while Catawba, Anderson, Flagler and Converse round out the top five. The Valkyries are followed by Augusta, North Georgia, Georgia College, Carson-Newman and USC Aiken.

The Pacers return to action Saturday at the Converse Invitational. Two other regionally ranked foes – No. 3 Anderson and No. 5 Converse, will be at the meet. 

"I am extremely proud of what the women have done so far," Leonard said. "It means a lot to us that the USTFCCCA has acknowledged our success. We still have a lot of work to do as we have set high goals for ourselves."

Regional rankings are determined subjectively by a single member coach in each respective region. The regional representative is tasked and weighing returning teams' strength with current season results in determining a rank-order of squad potential. Only USTFCCCA member programs are eligible to receive a ranking. 

For the complete rankings, click here.