Posted: Oct 30, 2021

Koalas Cross-Country has Best Showing of the Season

Greenville, SC – The Columbia College (SC) women's cross-country team scored 39 points at the Bob Jones Bruin Invite last Saturday (Oct. 30). The second-place finish is the highest finish of the season for the Koala women's team.

Makayla Hollifield once again led the Columbia College contingency, placing second overall with a time of 19:33.6. Hollifield was the first collegiate runner to cross the finish line.

The Koalas had seven total runners in the Top 20 with three finishing in the top 10.

Izabelle Trefts finished fifth (20:44.2) and Esther Ekundayo placed eighth (21:22.9) to round out the top three competitors for Columbia College.

Finishing in the Top 20 were: Gabrielle Huggins (11^th: 21.50.6), Elana Preston (14^th: 22.05.6), Ayanah Howard (19^th: 23:58.8), and Shelby Winn (20^th: 24.15.1).

Rounding out the competitors for the Koala women were Akiah McMillian (25:30.6) and Jessica Heiser-Whatley (26:31.5).

On the men's side, Patrick Timmerman and Robert Robbins finished in the Top 20 at 11^th and 13^th, respectively. Timmerman ran a 28:56.2 and 29:16.8, respectively. Austin Bonds completed the trio for the Koala men finishing 35^th in a time of 36:02.5