CHARLOTTE – The Big South Conference announced the winners for the 2023 Cross Country Runners of the Year on Tuesday afternoon, selecting Sarah McCartney as the recipient of the women's award.
 
McCartney finished her fall cross country season at the NCAA Regionals as she crossed the line in 32^nd place and a personal best time of 20:47.4 in the 6K at it. At the meet, she was the top finisher of all Big South athletes who were represented at the meet and took the 10^th-fastest time by a non-Power 5 conference athlete at the meet.
 
At the Big South Championships in October, McCartney took the title of individual runner-up at the meet. This finish tied the highest ever in school history at the meet and was the highest by a CSU athlete since the 1989 championship event. She finished with a career-best time of 16:54.5 at the meet's 5K and earned her second career All-Conference honor.
 
McCartney claiming the Runner of the Year marks the first time a Charleston Southern women's athlete has taken the award or Individual Champion. From 1984-2019, the Conference Individual Champion was named Big South Cross Country Runner of the Year. In 2020-21, the individual champion was declared Runner of the Meet. Beginning in 2021, the Big South Cross Country Runner of the Year award was voted on following the NCAA Cross Country Championships.
 
Looking ahead to track and field, the indoor season will begin on Saturday for the Buccaneers as they will traveling to Boston University for the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener. There are five runners from Charleston Southern that will be competing at it with them all running in the 5K.