USC Cross Country Has Strong Showing At NCAA West Regional
USC fielded a cross country team at the NCAA West Regional for the first time since the 2014 season and Alyssa Brewer led the young Trojan squad to a 22nd -place finish in Sacramento, Calif. today (Nov. 12).
The 6K course was set on the Haggin Oaks Golf Course and the Trojans were able to finish in the middle third of teams. USC was one of two teams to decrease its position to spots in the final quarter of the race, moving up from 24th to 22nd.
The Trojans had an average time of 22:18 with the five scoring-runners all finishing within 32 seconds of each other.
"I'm truly proud of how we competed today," said USC Associate Head Coach of Cross Country Jebreh Harris. "We had a total of 32 seconds across a five-woman gap, which is outstanding! This is a great step forward with our program. Alyssa, Mihajla, Giovanna, Gigi, Maya, and Jemima had great energy, togetherness, and an all-in mentally that we are looking for in our USC Trojan culture. "
The senior Brewer had a time of 22:03.9 to finish 108th overall. She moved up 23 spots in the final seven-tenths of a mile. In fact, five of USC's six runners moved up in the standings in the race's final stages.
Junior Mihajla Milovanovic was right behind her with a time of 22:06.0 to finish 111th. Fellow freshman Giovana Pisano was USC's third scoring runner and she posted a time of 22:20.1 to finish 131st overall, moving up five spots since the final marker.
Finishing fourth for the Trojans was freshman Gigi Maccagnini with a time of 22:24.4. That time had her crossing the line in 138th place.
The final scoring Trojan was freshman Maya Lacamp who had a time of 22:35.3 to finish 151st, moving up seven spots down the stretch.
The Trojans' sixth runner was senior Jemima Russell who had a time of 23:16.1 to finish 193rd, moving up six positions down the stretch.
For the first time since the 2014 season, the Trojans set a squad of five or more athletes which qualified them in the team competition. Since that time, the most Trojan runners to compete at the Regional meet were three during the 2015 season.