11/1/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
BUENA VISTA, Va. - The Charleston Southern Women's Cross Country team looks to finish a strong season at the 2013 Big South Championships this weekend at Vista Links Golf Course in Buena Vista, Va.
The team has been running well and won the Will Wilson/Citadel Invite last month. Sophomore Jessie Dotson set the school record (18:16) at the Royals XC Challenge and earned Big South Runner of the Week honors during a strong October for the Lady Bucs.
CSU also took eighth at the Big South Preview last month, finishing just behind Radford and VMI. CSU coach Ryan Thompson is excited to see how the women's team finishes the season and hos CSU stacks up after a month of steady improvement.
"Our top five finishers for the women have been consistent all year," Thompson said.
The top five finishers this season have regularly been sophomore Jessie Dotson, Senior Mary Davidson, and first-year runners Hannah Palm, Madison Burkholder, Emily Lyons.
"The order of our top five runners each meet seems to change with every race," Thompson continued. "It's been great! I wanted to see that and they really seem to embrace the idea of competing."
While the season has gone well for the Buccaneers, the team has struggled with injuries.
"We have had some major injuries on the women's side take out three girls who really could have changed the dynamic of the entire team," Thompson said. "Unfortunately, that's the way it rolls some years."
Thompson has been pleased with the progress of the entire team. "They've all made big strides—no one really stands out in particular," Thompson said. "They have all set personal records this season."
The Big South Championships are also the last Cross Country meet in the collegiate careers of seniors Hannah Burkholder and Mary Davidson.
"Hannah unfortunately is one of the one's sidelined with an injury; she won't be running," said Thompson. "He whole career has been hampered with injuries but when she has been healthy she has had some brilliant moments. Her maturity to take the injuries and just roll with it has been tremendous and she gets herself ready to run when the opportunity presents itself."
Thompson also had kind words looking back on Mary Davidson's career.
"Mary has had a breakout year and for it to happen her last go around has been huge. We needed her to step up as others went down. The past three years, she has shown the ability, but just couldn't keep it consistent. This season, when we needed her the most, she stepped up in a big way."
"Both Mary and Hannah have been tremendous team leaders and a blessing to me and my family, especially our daughter," Thompson commented, reflecting on the senior's careers.
Liberty is the defending Big South Champion.
-CSU-
