Clemson Women’s Cross Country To Open Season At Charlotte Relays

Aug. 29, 2003

CLEMSON, S.C. – The Clemson women’s cross country team will open its 2003 campaign on Saturday at the Charlotte Relays. The Lady Tigers will race at McAlpine Park, in a meet hosted by the Charlotte 49ers.

This season’s team is a blend of youth and experience, as the Lady Tigers return seven letterwinners from the 2002 team, and welcome nine newcomers. Sophomore Casey Phillips, who led Clemson a year ago, is expected to be one of the Lady Tigers’ key contributors again this season. Phillips earned all-state honors as a rookie, and led the Lady Tigers in every race last season. Junior Laura Ann Rukat also returns, after completing the 2002 season as Clemson’s number-two runner. Rukat posted three top-25 finishes a year ago, and while sophomore Jennifer Barton was a solid three-runner for Clemson in 2002. Senior Shannon Day and Jennifer Hooten also return to this year’s cross country team.

The returning core of the Lady Tiger team will be complimented by senior Shakirah Rutherford, sophomore LaToya Woodberry and freshmen Katie Boehm, Keri Deily, Patrice McMillan, Jelyn Quick, Christina Smith and Hannah Wright. This will be Rutherford and Woodberry’s first season competing in cross country at Clemson, while the other six newcomers enter this season with strong high school backgrounds.

Following this weekend’s season opener, Clemson will compete in the Pre-ACC Meet on the campus of Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC on Sept. 13. The Lady Tigers travel to Greenville, NC, on Oct. 4 for the East Carolina Invitational. Clemson returns home to play host to the Clemson Invitational and SC State Collegiate meet on Oct. 18, then competes at the ACC Championships on Nov. 1 in Winston-Salem, NC, to conclude the regular season. The Lady Tigers travel to Greenville, NC, on Nov. 15 to compete at the NCAA Southeast Regionals. The 2003 NCAA Cross Country Championships will be held on Nov. 24 in Cedar Falls, IA.