BLACKSBURG, Va.-- The High Point University men's cross-country team finished fourth as a team with a score of 103 at the Virginia Tech Alumni Invitational on Friday (Sep. 16th). Spencer Smucker was the top Panther finisher placing 15th overall with a time of 25:27.5 for the 8k course. 
 
Mike Esposito: "We engaged well but are still lacking the ability to finish the job.  We will keep grinding and putting in the bring training blocks."    
 
Behind Smucker in 15^th, the next Panther finisher, making his Panther debut was Othmane El Gharissi, who finished in 23^rd, with a time of 25:47.0.  The third scorer for the Panthers was Ian Miller, who finished in 28^th, with a time of 25:56.7.  Lorenzo Botter was the next Panther finished, with a time of 25:59.6, to slot into 30^th place.  The final scorer for the Panthers was Hunter Steinau, who finished in 32^nd, with a time of 26:04.8.    
 
As for the other Panthers in action, Patrick Kelly finished 38^th and Kyler Koning finished in 43^rd to round out the top 50 for HPU.  Klaus Mangeot finished in 63^rd, Ben Dertinger finished in 68^th, Jake Tarosky finished in 70^th, Jake Fiorillo placed 92^nd, Aiden Soto placed 95^th, and Evan Mills placed 99^th.      
 
The Panthers finished fourth out of 9 teams.
1. Liberty 30
2. East Tennessee State 48
3. Virginia Tech 50
4. High Point 103
5. Augusta 127
6. Marshall 186
7. Radford 205
8. VMI 229
9. Longwood 286