Boone, N.C. - Gardner-Webb's men's and women's cross country teams ran at the the Blue Ridge Open on Friday, getting team-leading runs from Mike McClay and Ariel Zimmerman respectively in both squad's final competitions prior to 2012 Big South Conference Championships.

The 2012 version of the Big South Conference Championship meet will take place in two weeks, on Saturday, October 27.

Zimmerman, a senior from Williamsburg, Va., led the Runnin' Bulldog women Friday, completing the 5K course at the Blue Ridge Open in a season best 19:25.31 to take 39th place overall.

Sophomore Amanda Hinson ran second fastest for Gardner-Webb, marking the highest team finish of her young collegiate career. The Monroe, North Carolina native finished with a personal best time of 21:01.49.

Senior Megan Frost (Crofton, Md.) finished next for GWU in 21:38.83, senior Ivana Hughes (Evans, Ga.) timed in at a season best 21:46.30, and freshman Claire Cates (Hillsborough, N.C.) crossed the finish line at 22:15.64 to round out the Runnin' Bulldogs' top five finishers Friday.

McClay (Lawrenceville, Ga.) led the Runnin' Bulldog men with a team-best 24th place finish, racing home for a season best time of 25:18.07 in the men's 8K race. The junior has led Gardner-Webb in each meet thus far in the 2012 season.

Senior Josiah Stanton-Brooks finished with Gardner-Webb's second fastest time of the day, recording a season best time of 27:35.80. The Seattle, Washington native was followed by junior Justin Loy's (Burrington, N.H.) time of 28:50.83.

Sophomore Nick Rogers (Monroe, Ga.) and freshman Will Cottrell (Waxhaw, N.C.) rounded out the top five for Gardner-Webb in the men's 8K race, timing in at a personal best 30:25.45 and 33:01.58 respectively.

Gardner-Webb will turn its attention to preparing for the 2012 Big South Conference Championship meet, taking place Saturday, October 27 in Rock Hill, S.C. The women's race will open at 10:00 a.m. with the men's race scheduled to follow at 11:00 a.m.