CHARLESTON – The women's cross country team opened their 2024 fall season on Friday morning by competing in the CSU Buccaneer Invitational and taking home the team title at the race with Sarah McCartney leading all runners to the line with her individual crown.
 
Following the race, Karl Thiessen, newly appointed assistant coach for track & field/cross country said, "today was a pivotal day for the women. Sarah controlled the race from the gun and ran a great, controlled effort in taking the win and leading the women to the victory."
 
As a team, Charleston Southern scored 29 points, taking the meet win over their crosstown foe in College of Charleston who had 37 on the day. McCartney crossed the line at 18:04.3, running nearly the entire race by herself after giving herself a massive lead from the start of the race.
 
A trio of Buccaneer sophomores were the next to cross the line with Katrina Husby taking 3^rd overall at 18:34.4, Freya Buglass in 4^th at 18:48.2 and Elizabeth Shaylor in 6^th at 19:02.6. Taylor White rounded out the top five CSU scorers of the day with a 16^th place finish and time of 19:30.5.
 
Other Charleston Southern runners who competed included freshman Brianna Adams (22^nd - 20:21.9), Avery Bender (25^th – 29:35.0), Finleigh Simonds (28^th – 20:47.9), Valerie Capalbo (31^st – 21:20.4).
 
"Overall, I am very pleased with the team's performances. This is a great confidence booster and was a perfect way for us to start our season," said Thiessen.
 
Charleston Southern will now enjoy a week off from racing as they will prepare for their first away meet of the fall. They will compete in the Furman Invitational on Saturday, September 14 as they make the trip to the upstate of the Palmetto state to continue their season.