Full Results
BOONE, N.C.-- The High Point University men's cross-country team finished fourth as a team with a score of 108 at the Covered Bridge Open hosted by Appalachian State on Friday (Sep. 3rd). Hocine Bouchrak was the top Panther finisher placing second overall behind FSU's Adriaan Wildschutt a contender for this year's national title.
Mike Esposito: "A little disappointed as a whole, but I know this is such a good group of kids and they had a really good summer and we are going to be okay. This was a good eye-opener for us. Like everyone we have to start sharpening a little bit but we are not going to abandon the plan, our plan is really solid, our kids are solid. We will grow from this."
"Hocine is very motivated right now and the kid he ran against was third at the NCAA Cross-Country National Championship a season ago and is one of the favorites to win it this year. Once that kid went, it became Hocine's race to run, I think he may have lost a little focus in the last 2K but Hocine will be fine he is healthy and really fit right now. I think this is going to be a great year for him.
Panther Particulars
Bouchrak finished second in an impressive performance running the 8k nearly sub 25 minutes finishing with a time of 25:08.18. Ian Miller put together a gutsy performance finishing 20th overall with a time of 26:05.95. Austen Cave was the third Panther to finish placing 21st behind his HPU teammate with a time of 26:09.66. Stephen Gray placed 33rd with a time of 26:24.64. Spencer Smucker came in right behind his teammate a place behind him 34th 26:26.44.
Ben Dertinger placed 43rd, Graham Ferguson finished 45th, Lorenzo Botter finished 47th rounding out the top 50 for HPU. Jake Tarosky placed 55th while Hunter Steinau came in 62nd.
Kyler Koning placed 65th, Chase Barajas finished 92nd, Aiden Morrison finished 111th while Patrick Kelly finished 12th.
The Panthers finished fourth out of 13 teams.
1. Florida State 36
2. Appalachian State 60
3. East Tennessee 86
4. High Point 108
5. Tennessee Tech 134
6. Milligan 148
7. Mercer 179
8. UNC Asheville 240
9. UNC Pembroke 258
10. Western Carolina 271
11. Northern Kentucky 293
12. Lees McRae 319
13. ASU Club Team 435
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