CHARLESTON, SC — Coastal Carolina University's women's cross country team opened the 2001 season in grand style by winning the six-team Charleston Southern University Invitational.

The Lady Chanticleers clearly ran away with the race as the five scoring Coastal runners each placed in the top seven places. Junior Kara Koppel led the way for the Lady Chants with a first place finish in a time of 14:11 in the 4,000-meter race. Freshman Kim Nemergut placed third (14:32), junior Robyn Ritter was fourth (15:01), freshman Lindsey Kozlowski placed fifth (15:01) and freshman Jessica Watson was seventh (15:43). Coastal also took the 10th, 11th, and 12th spots as Michelle Mentzer (15:54), Jessica Ballance (15:57), and Valerie Echevarria (15:54) crossed the line consecutively.

With five runners in the top seven places, Coastal Carolina's 20 points blew away second place Charleston Southern's 55 points. The College of Charleston was third with 80 points, Georgia Southern University took fourth with 96 points, The Citadel was fifth with 142 points and Savannah State placed sixth with 224 points