CHARLESTON – The Charleston Southern Cross Country teams opened their 2023 schedule on Friday morning at the CSU Buccaneer Invitational. The men's team put a blistering pace on the field leading to a sweep of the top nine positions in the race as they cruised to the meet win. On the women's side, they finished as the runner-ups after a narrow one-point margin to put them behind Coastal Carolina.
 
Jordan Smith took the individual crown as he distanced himself from the pack in the final couple hundred meters to cross the line for the 6K at 18:56 with a stampede of his teammates closely behind. At 19:10, Jeff Wedding, Caleb Kenyon, Griffin Gillespie, Zack Wedding, Micah Gilpatric (unattached) and Jack McGahey all crossed the line in that order. Jaden Kingsley was next at 19:11 for 8^th overall to round out the CSU team top 7 with Sam Waldin behind him after Waldin's sprint to the line to pass Adam Groves from Coastal Carolina.  
 
In addition, freshmen Tanner Jelliff had a stellar debut race, sticking with the lead pack for the first lap and crossing at 19:49 to finish in 16^th and had fellow freshman Parker Massey close behind in 21^st at 20:04. Rounding out the men's performances were Timothy Depue (20:36), Jake Hamacher (20:37), Wesley Haagstrom (20:43), Mason Raasch (20:49) and Connor Smith (21:19).
 
On the women's wide, the team title came down to the wire with College of Charleston having their first five runners across the line first but accumulating 45 points for third. CSU were the next to have all theirs across the line with 40 points, coming in at 4 and 5, 8 and 9, then 14. Coastal Carolina had the top two finishers on the day and had their others in 6^th, 11^th, and 19^th. With the placings they accumulated right at 39 points to edge the Buccaneers from a tie or a win.
 
Sarah McCartney led the team with a 15:43 in 4^th and had Keerstin Augustin right behind at 15:44. Sarah Jacobs and Anne Akagi finished back-to-back as well at 16:07 and 16:09. Rounding out the lineup for the Bucs were Taylar White at 16:39, Charlize Antia at 16:47 and Kallie Henderson at 16:48, the latter two each making their first collegiate races. Some freshmen making their debuts also included Amira Raso (17:17), Katrina Husby (17:19), Avery Bender (17:38) and Valerie Capalbo (17:58).
 
The Cross Country teams will return to the course the weekend after next to compete in the Furman Invitational on Saturday, September 16.