Sept. 27, 2007

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The USC Upstate men's and women's cross country teams will venture to Charleston, S.C., this Saturday as they run in The Citadel Invitational. The men will run at 9 a.m. followed by the women at 9:35 a.m.

Last week, Upstate had an improved showing at the Charlotte Invitational including freshman women's cross country runner Emily Tangwar finishing fourth in the women's 5k. On the men's side, sophomore Matt Henderson was ninth and freshman Conrad Goeringer came in 12th in the 8k race.

"We're proud of how hard everyone is working. They've done a great job of adjusting after the first couple of meets," Upstate head coach Jimmy Stephens said.

Seven other Division I teams will be competing in the meet including Presbyterian, Western Carolina, South Carolina State, Savannah State, College of Charleston, Charleston Southern, and, host school, The Citadel. Spartan cross country has ran against several of the teams that are competing in the meet.

"The Citadel and College of Charleston are good teams we've seen and we're looking to put forth a better showing this time than previously," Upstate assistant coach Ed Schlichter said.

Tangwar, who has finished in the top eight in all three meets this season will be one of the front-runners in the women's race and Schlicher says that she is "set to do something big this week". This week also could see the emergence of another runner poised for a good meet on the men's team in junior Brent Durden.

"Brent has had some really strong practices this week and could push both Matt (Henderson) and Conrad (Goeringer) this weekend," Schlichter said.

The forecast for the day before the meet calls for a chance of rain, but the conditions for Saturday look to be ideal with a temperature of 69 degrees predicted at race time. The course is a relatively flat course and, if there is rain the day before, times could be low according to both coaches

"A lot of it depends on if it rains, but, if it doesn't, I think we can still have some fast times no matter what," Stephens said. "Everyone is working together to push each other because it still is a team sport and every one has to do their part individually."