Lady Tiger Team to Compete in USC Cross Country Invitational Friday

Aug. 31, 2006

The Clemson Lady Tigers will kick off the 2006 cross country season with a trip to Columbia, SC for the USC Invitational. Clemson is the two-time defending team champion of the event. The women’s 5K race is scheduled for 7:00 PM from Hilton Field in Fort Jackson. Also competing in the event will be Charleston Southern, The Citadel, Coker College, College of Charleston, Francis Marion, Georgia Southern, Mercer, UNC-Pembroke, South Carolina, and USC-Aiken.

Last season, behind Jenny Barton’s first-place finish and Casey Phillips’ runner-up spot, the Lady Tigers totaled 45 points to defeat the host Gamecocks by just two points. Barton and Phillips have departed for the Lady Tigers, but Clemson does return letterwinners in senior Patrice McMillan and sophomores Sunday Ford and Candice Johnson. All three placed in the top 20 at last year’s Gamecock Invitational.

Also returning to the team this season with experience from 2005 are Thea Dix, Elizabeth Embler, and Lauren Marriott. Those four combined to see action in 18 races last season. Newcomers to the squad in 2006 are Lauren Klas, Elizabeth Tempel, Laura Laughlin, Ashley Vaughn, Anastasia Wilson, and Katie Hester. All are expected to compete this weekend for Clemson.