Rock Hill, S.C. - Elisabeth Sawyer's 5K time led Gardner-Webb women's cross country, and Josiah Stanton-Brooks' 8K time was tops for GWU's men's cross country team, as both teams picked up 10th place finishes on Saturday morning at the 2012 Big South Conference Championship meet.

Saturday's meet in Rock Hill, S.C. was hosted by Winthrop University.

In the women's 5K race, Gardner-Webb got a season best time from top finisher Elisabeth Sawyer, a senior from Charlotte, N.C. Sawyer raced to a time of 19:29.34, 37th best in the event.

Fellow senior Ariel Zimmerman (Williamsburg, Va.) followed in 41st, finishing in 19:36.05 to record the second fastest time of the day for the Runnin' Bulldogs. Her performance was trailed by sophomore Amanda Hinson (Monroe, N.C.), who continued her breakthrough second-year campaign Saturday morning. Hinson knocked over 10 seconds off her personal best, finishing with a time of 20:48.08.

Junior Katie Spiro raced home for a time of 20:53.96, a season best for the Sylva, N.C. native. She was followed by senior Ivana Hughes (Evans, Ga.), who recorded a personal best time of 21:10.36 as the fifth fastest GWU time of the day.

Senior Leah Steinke (Green Cove Springs, Fla.) also put up a personal best time Saturday after clocking in at 21:16.67 in the 5K race. Senior Megan Frost (Thurmont, Md.) and freshman Kaycee Martin (Madison, Ala.) finished in 21:44.45 and 23:01.96 respectively for GWU on Saturday morning.

The Gardner-Web women (264) finished just behind a tie for 8th between Charleston Southern (239) and Radford (239). Liberty (40) defended its women's team title with a first place team finish.

In the men's 8K, GWU's top time came from senior Josiah Stanton-Brooks (Seattle, Wash.), who ran a season best 27:35.09 to finish 52nd overall. Junior Mike McClay (Lawrenceville, Ga.) followed for GWU, running the 8K in 28:46.00.

Fellow junior Justin Loy (Burrington, N.H.) was third-fastest for the Runnin' Bulldog men, crossing the finish line at 28:57.45. Loy's time was trailed by junior Trey Crook's. The Lexington, N.C. native recorded a time of 29:12.08 Saturday morning.

Junior Drew Ford (Wasilla, Alaska) recorded his fastest time in an 8K race this season, scoring a time of 29:59.45. Sophomore Nick Rogers (Monroe, Ga.) and freshman Aaron Cronk (West Jefferson, N.C.) rounded out GWU's top 7 finishers Saturday, clocking in at 31:23.61 and 33:42.45 respectively.

Two Runnin' Bulldogs were honored with a spot on the Big South All-Academic Team. Elisabeth Sawyer was named to the conference's All-Academic Team for women's cross country, and Mike McClay was named a member of the Big South's All-Academic Team for men's cross country.

Gardner-Webb's men's and women's cross country teams return to the course for NCAA Regionals, to be run at Charlotte, N.C.'s McAlpine Park on Saturday, November 10.