BOONE, N.C.-- The High Point University men's cross-country team finished fourth as a team with a score of 123 at the Covered Bridge Open hosted by Appalachian State on Friday (Sep. 2nd). Hunter Steinau was the top Panther finisher placing 20th overall with a time of 26:03.08 for the 8k course. 
 
Head coach Mike Esposito: "I thought we engaged pretty well early, we just didn't finish the deal, but it's a start.  It's a really good group, I think it's a workable group, and I know that they are all on board.  I think that we are going to see a lot of progress as the year goes on.  We are not even thinking about Virginia Tech, we want to put in a solid two weeks of training and Virginia Tech is the workout at the end of that block of training.  It is a very rolling course like the course at conference and will include solid competition since Virginia Tech will be there and run their best people.  We just want to win the next long run."    
 
Behind Steinau in 20^th, the next Panther finisher was senior Spencer Smucker who finished in 22nd with a time of 26:10.32.  Lorenzo Botter finished right behind Smucker in 23rd with a time of 26:15.15, the best 8k time of his career as a Panther.  Patrick Kelly was the next Panther finisher with a time of 26:18.98 to slot into 29th place.  The final scorer for the Panthers was Graham Ferguson, who finished in 31st with a time of 26:19.64. 
 
As for the other Panthers in action, Ian Miller finished 32nd, Ben Dertinger placed 43rd, Jake Tarosky finished 45th, and Kyler Koning finished in 46th rounding out the top 50 for HPU.  Klaus Mangeot was the highest Panther freshman finishing in 61st in his first collegiate race.  Aiden Soto finished in 74th, Jake Fiorillo placed 79th, Aiden Morrison finished 104th, Evan J. Mills 117th, Evan Parkerson 120th, Aidan Finn 127th, and Jack LaSalle in 130th.   
 
The Panthers finished fourth out of 13 teams.
1. Florida State 32
2. Appalachian State 69
3. Louisville 94
4. High Point 123
5. Milligan 153
6. Southern Indiana 156
7. Mercer 184
8. Tennessee Tech 227
9. UNC Asheville 235
10. Western Carolina 271
11. West Florida 326
12. Lees-McRae 343
13. Lenoir-Rhyne 400