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Table of Contents............................1USC Aiken ......................................2Athletic Facilities .............................3Schedule/Roster .............................4Sports Information ..........................4Head Coach Kara Kreutzer ............52011 in Review ...............................52012 Preview ..................................6State Farm ......................................6South Carolina Education Lottery ...62012 Pacers ................................7-8

Address .......................................................................471 University ParkwayCity, State ............................................................................Aiken, S.C. 29801Founded ....................................................................................................1961Enrollment ................................................................................................3,250Chancellor ........................................................................... Dr. Sandra JordanAlma Mater (Year) ...................................................................Alabama (1974)Athletic Director ......................................................................... Randy WarrickAlma Mater (Year) ..........................................................North Carolina (1977)Athletic Department Phone....................................................... (803) 641-3486National Affiliation ................................................................... NCAA Division IIConference ...................................................................................... Peach BeltNickname............................................................................................... PacersColors (PMS) ...............................................Cardinal (201), Navy (295), WhiteFacility .......................................................................................... “Pacer Path”Capacity.......................................................................................................700

Table of ContentsQuick FactsGENERAL

CROSS COUNTRYFirst Year of Cross Country �����������������������������������������������������������������������19892011 Postseason Result ������������������������������������������������������������� Eighth in PBC

25th in NCAA RegionalHead Coach�������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Kara KreutzerAlma Mater (Year) ������������������������������������������������������������Augusta State, 2010Years at USCA ������������������������������������������������������������������������ Second SeasonCross Country Office Phone ����������������������������������������������������� (803) 641-6811Best Time of Day to Reach �����������������������������������������������������������������MorningsAssistant Coach�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������N/AAlma Mater/Year ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������N/AAthletic Trainer��������������������������������������������������������������������������� Brandon Aiken2012 Overall Record������������������������������������������������������������������������������������N/A2012 Conference Record ����������������������������������������������������������������������������N/A2012 Conference Finish ������������������������������������������������������������������������� EighthFinal 2012 Ranking��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������N/ARunners Returning/Lost��������������������������������������������������������������������������������6/1 Newcomers������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������2

MEDIA RELATIONSAssistant AD/SID .............................................................................Brian HandAlma Mater (Year) ....................................................... North Greenville (2003)Email..................................................................................... bhand@usca.eduAssistant SID ............................................................................ Mike KucharskiAlma Mater (Year) ................................................................USC Aiken (2013)Email............................................................................ mjkucharski@usca.eduSports Information Office Phone .............................................. (803) 641-3252

2012 USC Aiken Cross Country

CREDITSWritten, Compiled, and Designed Michael Kucharski, TJ Lundeen and Brian HandEditors Brian Hand, Michael Kucharski and JC SaulCover Design Brian HandPhotography Credits Milledge Austin; Carolina Sports Photography; Brian Hand; Scott Webster; Willis Glasgow

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The University of South Carolina Aiken was chartered in 1961 after entering into an agreement with the University of South Carolina to establish a two-year center in Aiken. The Aiken Center opened its doors in September 1961 to 139 students. Temporarily housed in Banksia, a renovated mansion in Aiken, the Center consisted of three full-time faculty members (one of whom served as Director of the Center). In 1968, the Center underwent an institutional self-study and was accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools as a branch of the University of South Carolina and as a junior college. The first associate degrees were awarded in June 1968. The campus of USC Aiken moved from Banksia to its present site in 1972 and physical changes began to occur rapidly. At first, the permanent campus consisted of 100 acres and one multipurpose building which housed all university operations. A library was completed in 1975, and additional land was donated that increased the campus to 144 acres. In October 1977, the Student Activities Center was opened. A classroom building was occupied in 1978, and one year later, an auxiliary services building was added. An apartment complex for

students, Pacer Downs, was ready for occupancy in the fall of 1984. More construction additions to the campus included completion of the Etherredge Center, Ruth Patrick Science Education Center, the Business and Education Building, and the Alan B. Miller Nursing Building. Additional land was acquired increasing the campus to 400 acres. Academic and organizational changes also occurred rapidly. The faculty formalized its organizational structure and redefined its role in the governance of the institution in 1974-75. Also, the students reorganized their governing body and more precisely defined their role on campus; the administration and staff structures were overhauled and expanded to meet the demands of the growing academic programs. When the full-time equivalent student enrollment reached 1,066 in the fall of 1975, the USC Aiken campus was permitted to plan for senior level courses and to create a number of baccalaureate degree programs. In that same year, USCA

received approval as a four-year branch campus by the Board of Trustees of the University of South Carolina, and USCA was designated a Recognized Candidate for Senior College Accreditation. In September 1976, the Board of Trustees granted academic autonomy to the Aiken Campus. The first bachelor’s degrees were granted in May 1977, and USCA became a fully accredited senior college. Presently, the college community is comprised of more than 3,200 students, over 100 full-time faculty, approximately 110 staff members, and 28 administrators. USCA awards bachelor’s degrees in more than 20 major areas of study, master’s degrees in two areas, and offers a varied program of continuing education courses for the wider community. Today USC Aiken offers students a liberal education designed to develop an understanding of human experience which will equip them for life in a free society. To accomplish this, the University provides students with an opportunity to discover learning processes which enable them to grow personally and socially. It promotes students’ interaction within a community of active scholars and artists, and it encourages students to use the knowledge which they gain to deal with the problems of a rapidly changing world.

Top Right: The USC Aiken fountain is located at the heart of campus.Above: USC Aiken features state-of-the-art dorms including Pacer Commonspictured above.

University of South Carolina Aiken

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Pacer Path Cross Country Course

Pacer Path is a four-mile-long, 15-foot-wide grass and earth multipurpose fitness trail, which has been built on prop-erty adjacent to the Convocation Center. Pacer Path has been built to NCAA standards and it is the only cross country course at a Peach Belt Conference School.

USC Aiken Convocation Center

The Convocation Center gives the men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball programs a state-of-the-art facility in which to practice and play and gives the athletic department as a whole expanded space and modern offices in which to operate. The main arena seats 3,600 for athletic events.

Tennis Complex

The complex, which is adjacent to J.H. Satcher Field, includes seven lighted courts, a coach’s office and a club-house. Spectators can choose whether to sit next to the court of their choice, or in the bleachers located next to the number one singles court.

Palmetto Golf Club

Palmetto Golf Club was founded in 1892 and is rec-ognized as the fourth oldest golf course in the United States. In 1934, Alister McKenzie, the Scottish golf architect who built Augusta National, redesigned the greens. The clubhouse was built in 1902 by the same man who built the Boston Gardens, Stanford White. White constructed an exact scale model of the clubhouse at Shinnecock Hills on Long Island, N.Y.

Roberto Hernandez Stadium

The 1,000-seat, state-of-the-art stadium features a beautiful grass and clay surface with all the amenities of a top-notch Division I ballpark. A clubhouse, players’ lounge, coaches’ offices, modern press box with separate radio broad-cast booth, training facilities, top-of-the-line scoreboard with message center and 850 covered seats are among the high-lights. The crown jewel of the facility is the Roberto Hernandez Hall of Fame Room.

J.H. Satcher Field

J.H. Satcher Field is conveniently located near the heart of the USC Aiken campus. J.H. Satcher Field includes a climate-controlled press box, a conession stand, coaches’ offices and a locker room at the field. Included among the 1,000 seats are 500 seats with backs. The playing surface is composed of clay and sod.

USC Aiken Athletic Facilities

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2012 Schedule/Roster

University of South Carolina Aiken2012 Cross Country Schedule/Roster

DATE OPPONENT SITE TIME

Sept. 7 (Fri) Bridgestone-Pacer Invitational - 5K Aiken, S.C. 6 p.m.

Sept. 14 (Fri) at Francis Marion Invitational (Francis Marion) Florence S.C. 5:30 p.m.

Sept. 22 (Sat) at Pre-Conference - 6K (Montevallo) Montevallo, Ala. 9:45 a.m.

Oct. 5 (Fri) at ASU Jaguar Invite (Augusta State) Evans, Ga. 5:30 p.m.

Oct. 20 (Sat) at Conference Championship (Montevallo) Montevallo, Ala. TBA

Nov. 3 (Sat) at Southeast Regional Championship Charlotte, N.C. TBA

Head Coach: Kara Kreutzer (Augusta State, 2010), Second Season

Name Yr. Hometown/Previous School

Keely Gillespie Jr. Belvedere, S.C./North Augusta

Alexis Harvin So. Las Animas, Colo./Las Animas

Lauren Hodge Jr. Lexington, S.C./Lexington

Samantha Lisek Fr. Zebulon, N.C./East Wake Academy

Brittany May So. Augusta, Ga./Greenbrier

Kayla Millholland So. Hampton, Ga./Luella

Morgan Payne Fr. Leesville, S.C./Pelion

Hillary Spears Sr. Bellbrook, Ohio/Northwood

The Sports Information Department is pleased to assist you with the coverage of USC Aiken cross country. We provide pre-race information, statistics, publicity photos, and other information. Publicity surrounding the cross country program is handled by Brian Hand, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications and Promotions. He can be reached at (803) 641-3252 or via email at bhand@usca.edu.

Credentials All requests for print, radio, and television credentials should be made as soon as possible prior to an event by contacting Brian Hand.

Interviews To arrange an interview with Head Coach Kara Kreutzer or any of the players, please contact the Sports Information Office. Post-race interviews can be conducted in a designated area following the NCAA’s recommended 10-minute cooling off period after the conclusion of the meet. The locker room is closed to the media.

USC Aiken Sports Information

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Head Coach Kara Kreutzer/2011 Season Review

2011 Cross Country Season in Review The University of South Carolina Aiken women’s cross country team put together a strong season under first-year head coach Kara Kreutzer. The Pacers competed in seven meets in total in the 2011 season. They also played host to the Second Annual Bridgestone-Pacer Invitational and the Peach Belt Conference Cross Country Championships for the first time. USC Aiken’s best team finish on the year came in the Gamecock Invitational. The Pacers finished second among all of the Division II teams in the Gamecock Invitational. The Pacers finished eighth as a team at the 2011 Peach Belt Conference Women’s Cross Country Champion-ship on Oct. 22. Keely Gillespie continued her assault on the Pacer cross country record books in the 2011 sea-son. Gillespie finished the year at the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional by claiming the top 6K time in school history with a time of 23:42.8. Gillespie will begin her junior season in 2012 owning two of the top three 6K times in school history. She also owns the top 5K time in school history with a time of 19:34. Gillespie concluded the Peach Belt Conference Women’s Cross Country Championship in 14th place to obtain All-Conference accolades for the second straight year. Cassey Lloyd was named to the 2011 Peach Belt Conference Women’s Cross Country All-Academic Team.

Kreutzer’s first year as the head of the Pacers was a successful one as they look forward to the future of the program in the 2012 season and beyond. The Pacers hosted the 2011 Peach Belt Conference Cross Country Championship at Pacer Path. USC Aiken finished eighth in the competition and would go on to finish 25th at the NCAA Southeast Regional. Keely Gillespie led the way for the Pacers by finishing 14th at the PBC Championship. Gillespie would then go on to set the school-record 6K time at 23:42.8 at the NCAA Regionals. Gillespie would be a Peach Belt All-Conference selection for the second straight year, and Cassey Lloyd was named to the Peach Belt Conference All-Academic Team for her efforts in the classroom. Warrick noted at the time of Kreutzer’s addition that, “She has been a part of a great cross country program at Augusta State and she will bring good knowledge and experience as a former collegiate runner to USC Aiken.” Previously, Kreutzer spent a year as a student assistant coach for the men’s and women’s cross country teams. A December 2010 graduate of Augusta State with a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology, Kreutzer ran cross country and track for the Peach Belt Conference institution. Kreutzer was consistently a top five scorer for the Jaguar cross country program under the direction of Adam Ward. Kreutzer claimed All-Academic honors in 2007 and 2008, while also being named to the PBC Presidential Honor Roll after the 2007-08 athletic year. As a member of the Augusta State women’s club track team, Kreutzer is currently the school record holder in the 2K, 3K and 10K Steeplechase. Kreutzer was also a member of Augusta State’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for all four of her years at the institution. An extremely well-rounded individual, Kreutzer was a member of many other organizations during her time at Augusta State. She was a member of the Biology Club, the Tri-Beta Biology Honor Society and the Chemistry Club. Kreutzer was also a Student Ambassador Board member and a member of the Iota Pi Chapter of Alpha Mu Gamma. Through the years, Kreutzer has participated in a plethora of mission trips and been the road race director for a myriad of different causes. In February of 2010, she was the charity road race director for the Glazes of Glory 5K. The event benefited the Make-A-Wish foundation. Last summer, she was the road race director for the Grassroots series, which benefited the Augusta State cross country teams. Just recently in January of 2011, Kreutzer was the road race director for Trot to Adopt 5K. The road race was set up to benefit Lifesong for Orphans. Still an avid runner, Kreutzer has completed many road races on her own, including 13 half marathons, two marathons and the Augusta half Ironman.

Kara KreutzerCross Country Head Coach

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2012 Cross Country Season Preview Second-year University of South Carolina Aiken women’s cross country coach Kara Kreutzer and the Pac-ers are ready for the 2012 cross country campaign The 2012 USC Aiken cross country schedule fea-tures six meets in total. “I’m proud to see my returners excited about sum-mer training and dedicated to improving their times this fall,” remarked Kreutzer. “I also think our two incoming freshmen will be strong contributors to the team and help us to gain ground at conference and regionals with better team place-ment!” The 2012 USC Aiken cross country schedule will begin with the Pacers playing host to the Third Annual Bridgestone-Pacer Invitational on Friday, Sept. 7 at their top-of-the-line home course Pacer Path. The women’s por-tion of the event is scheduled to get underway at 6 p.m. USC Aiken will then hit the road for the first time in 2012 to run in the Francis Marion Invitational on Friday, Sept. 14. The Pacers will then close out their first month of the season by participating in the Peach Belt Conference Pre-Conference meet at Montevallo on Saturday, Sept. 22. The 6K women’s portion of the Pre-Conference meet is set to begin at 9:45 a.m. USC Aiken will commence the month of October by participating at the Augusta State Jaguar Invite at Blanchard Woods Park in Evans, Ga. The ASU Jaguar Invite is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 5. The Pacers will then travel back to Montevallo, Ala. to compete in the Peach Belt Conference Championship on Saturday, Oct. 20. Two weeks later on Saturday, Nov. 3, USC Aiken will run in the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Champion-ships at McAlpine Creek Park in Charlotte, N.C.

2012 Outlook

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2011 (Freshman): Started her career as a Pacer with a 21st place finish in the Game-cock Invitational, with a time of 25:09.33 … Was one of three Pacers to finish in the top-20 at the Erskine College Invitational, registering a time of 19:18, good for 18th place … Ran a time of 26:57.10 in her first home meet of the season on the Pacer Path at the Bridgestone-Pacer Invitational … Placed in all seven Pacer meets in 2011.

Las Animas High School: Ran track, played basketball and volleyball in high school ... President of National Honor Society ... Secretary Treasurer of her high school Stu-dent Council ... Valedictorian of her high school class.

Personal: Majoring in Biology ... Alexis is the daugther of Ernest Harvin and Dorlene Lucero.

Alexis HarvinSophomore

Las Animas, Colo.Las Animas HS

2011 (Sophomore): Started season with a fourth place finish overall among Division II runners in the Gamecock Invitational, with a time of 20:22.98 … Built on that success with a second place finish (16:13) in the Erskine College Invitational … Established the fourth-best 6K time in school history (25:02.70) with her 11th place finish in the Jaguar Invitational … Earned third-best 6K time in Pacer history (24:37.28) in finishing in 14th place at the Peach Belt Conference Championship … Saved her best run for last as she established the USC Aiken school record in the 6K with a time of 23:42.80 at the 2011 NCAA Division II Southeast Regional ... Named to PBC All-Conference Team for the second consecutive season … Now owns two of the top three and three of the top five 6K times in Pacer history.

2010 (Freshman): Chosen Peach Belt Conference Freshman of the Year ... Earned First-Team All-Peach Belt Conference accolades ... Captured the best 5K time in school history with a 19:34.8 in the 5K Lenoir-Rhyne Invitational ... Top finisher for the Pacers in all seven meets in 2010.

North Augusta High School: Three-sport letterwinner ... Named All-Region in cross country five times ... Chosen All-State in cross country in 2009 ... All-Region in soccer in 2009 and 2010.

Personal: Majoring in Nursing ... Keely is the daughter of Ricky and Wanda Gillespie.

Keely GillespieJunior

Belvedere, S.C. North Augusta HS

2011 (Sophomore): Hodge’s best finish of the season came in the Erskine College In-vitational, where she registered a 27th place finish with a time of 21:19 … Her best time in the 6K came in the Bridgestone-Pacer Invitational, where she finished with a time of 31:44.70

2010 (Freshman): Best finish of the season was a 28th place finish at the Bridgestone-Pacer Invitational on Sept. 25.

Lexington High School: Named Most Improved in cross country in 2009 at Lexington ... Most Valuable Player of JV basketball team.

Personal: Majoring in Business Administration ... Lauren is the daughter of David and Theresa Hodge.

Lauren HodgeJunior

Lexington, S.C.Lexington HS

2012 Pacers

Hillary SpearsSenior

Bellbrook, OhioNorthwood

Northwood University: Attended Northwood University during the 2010-11 athletic year after attending Ohio Valley University from 2008-10 ... Led women’s basketball team at Ohio Valley in rebounds ... Named to Ohio Valley’s President’s List for the 2009-10 athletic year.

Bellbrook High School: Played Basketball and was a member of the cross country team ... Was a Second Team All-League selection in cross country ... Named All-League in women’s basketball.Personal: Majoring in Business Administration ... Hillary is the daughter of Frank and Pam Spears.

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2011 (Freshman): Competed in all seven races in her first season at USC Aiken … Placed in the top-20 of the Gamecock Invitational, along with fellow teammates Keely Gillespie and Brittany May, with a time of 24:42.16, good enough for a 19th place fin-ish … Placed in the top-third of finishers at the Erskine College Invitational with a time of 18:04 … Had the second best time (27:44.80) for the Pacers in the Jaguar Invita-tional … Registered her best 6K time of the season in the Bridgestone-Pacer Invita-tional with a mark of 26:55.80.

Luella High School: Member of the cross country and soccer teams at Luella ... Named All-Region and All-County in soccer ... Finished first in the region in cross coun-try ... All-Region and All-Country in cross country all four years ... Most Valuable Player on Luella soccer team.

Personal: Majoring in Exercise and Sports Science ... Kayla is the daughter of Chuck and Wanda Hawkins.

Kayla MillhollandSophomore

Hampton, Ga.Luella HS

2011 (Freshman): Competed in six meets in her first season as a Pacer … Logged a 16th place finish in her first race of the season at the Gamecock Invite, completing the course in a time of 23:28.20 … Registered a sub-20 minute time (19:31) in the Pacers next race at the Erskine College Invitational … May’s best time of the year came at the Bridgestone-Pacer Invitational, where she conquered the 6K in a time of 27:57.20 … Completed three of the four 6K events in under 30 minutes.

Greenbrier High School: Was a member of the track and cross country programs at Greenbrier ... Member of National Honor Society, serving as Secretary ... Also member of Beta Club ... Received the Wolfpack Award at Greenbrier.

Personal: Majoring in Secondary Education ... Brittany is the daughter of Drew May and Annette Dixon.

Brittany MaySophomore

Augusta, Ga. Greenbrier HS

2012 Pacers

Samantha LisekFreshman

Zebulon, N.C.East Wake Academy

Morgan PayneFreshman

Leesville, S.C.Pelion HS

East Wake Academy: Was Team Captain of the Eagles cross country program for three years ... Was President of Student Government for all four years ... Member of the National Honor Society and a North Carolina Scholar ... Awarded the American Legion Citizenship Award and the Principal’s Award.

Personal: Majoring in Exercise and Sports Science ... Samantha is the daughter of Joseph and Lisa Lisek.

Pelion High School: Named All-State in 2007 for cross country ... She was tabbed All-Region in cross country and track from 2007-12 ... Region champ in the 800 meter in 2011.

Personal: Majoring in Exercise and Sports Science ... Morgan is the daughter of Robert Dwaine and Melynda Payne.