LYNCHBURG, Va. – Bethlehem Manzano Jimeno, Tori Mack and Chidinma Margaret Agu were just a few Gamecocks that stood out during day two of the season opening Liberty Kickoff on Friday. Jimeno took home the individual crown in the one mile while Mack and Agu each set new program records. 
  
This was a very solid opener for the team," said head coach Jeremy Provence, "It was good seeing all of the hard work from fall pay off. This gives us a good idea of where we are as a team and what we need to work on moving forward." 
  
Beti Jimeno picked up right where she left off in the cross country season, closing out a mile time of 5:00.31 to take home the individual crown of the women's one mile. The CUSA Cross Country Third Team All-Conference selection finished the race five seconds faster than the runner-up. 
  
Tori Mack set a new program record for the 60 hurdles, clocking in at 8.78 in her first collegiate race. The freshman from Trussville, Ala. advanced to the finals in the hurdles and finished eighth in the event. 
  
Agu paired up with freshman Camilla Dahl Kristiansen to place first and second respectively in the 400 dash. Agu finished with a time of 54.74 while Kristiansen crossed the finish line just after at 54.76. Hailey Tucker, Emma Drinkard and Amber Bailey all finished in the top-21 of the 45 competitors. Both Agu and Kristiansen's times were under the previous school record. 
   
Trinity Schraudner led Jax State in the 800 final with a 2:25.52 finish while Katie Langford, Rania Yousef Moreno and Breanna Becerra all finished in the top ten. Rudi Barnett finished one spot out of the top ten in 11th place. Freshman Nicola Peters led the Gamecocks in the 200 finals, placing 14th in a 25.43 performance.
 
Peters also competed in the 60-meter dash, placing 17th at 7.82, just seven spots behind Amiyah Johnson who finished 10th with a 7.73 finish.
  
Freshman Maxima Majer finished as the top Gamecock in the 3000, crossing the finish line in 12th while Olivia King, Emily Coddington and Claudia Rubio Machacon filled out the 16 through 18 spots. 
  
In the field, Jadyn Bonds led the way for Jax State, placing eighth with a 5' 1" high jump and 28th in the shot put with a distance of 30' 1 ¼". Kayley Stanley also competed in the pole vault, placing eighth with a 11' 11 ½".
 
In Thursday's action, Cayla Johnson finished with 3409 points in her pentathlon group, the third best mark in school history. Chanel Rutledge and Chaci Whitfield also performed well in their pentathlon groups. 
  
"Needless to say, we are excited about the group this year and the opportunity for growth as the season progresses," said Provence.
 
The Gamecocks are back in action next month at the Samford January Invite on Jan. 17.