High Point University sophomore Patrick Crawford has been named Big South Cross Country Runner of the Week, the league announced on Tuesday. Crawford placed third overall and was the top collegiate finisher in the Blue Ridge Open last Friday in Boone, N.C.

At the Blue Ridge Open, Crawford went head-to-head with two post-collegiate runners for the entire race and finished in a career-best 24:38.2 for 8K in cross country. Only Cameron Bean of ZAP Fitness (24:25.1) and post-collegiate runner Sandy Roberts (24:28.3) came in ahead of Crawford, who couldn't keep up over the last mile.

Crawford's previous best this season as 24:57 in the Big South Preview at Quail Creek Golf Club in Conway, S.C. He finished second to Liberty's Zac Edwards in that race.

Crawford's third-place finish led the Panthers in a third-place team showing. High Point finished behind only George Mason and Wake Forest. The Panthers beat Big South opponents Campbell (eighth), Winthrop (ninth), Radford (14th), UNC Asheville (16th), Coastal Carolina (19th) and Gardner-Webb (21st).

HPU junior Jacob Smith was just off Crawford's pace, taking fifth overall (third collegiate) in 25:06.1.

Next up the Panthers will compete for the Big South Championship on Saturday, Oct. 29 at Quail Creek Golf Club in Conway, S.C. High Point has been runner-up at the Big South Championship four times in a row and was picked No. 1 in the Big South Preseason Poll this year.