ROCK HILL, S.C. — The High Point University men's cross country team traveled to Rock Hill, S.C., to compete in the NCAA Southeast Regional on Friday morning on the campus of Winthrop University. Sophomore Gavin Stevens took charge and led the Panthers to a 19th-place finish of 33 teams in their final race of the 2024 season.

Head Coach Mike Esposito: "It's been a frustrating year, not because of the kid's efforts or attitude; they are an incredible group. We just didn't race as well as we trained and that's on me. We certainly engaged OK today. I'm very pleased with Gavin Stevens and Avery Crowell, two sophomores who have really come on. Jason Thomson was solid today. I'm disappointed for Hunter Steinau coming off the Big South Conference meet as the individual champion. I knew this was going to be his next step and sometimes when you go to the next level you have to struggle again, so I think he will learn from this. I feel really bad for the seniors. The good news is we have track coming, and I know the foundation was laid this fall. Our training has been excellent and they've done everything I've asked of them."

Stevens had an impressive performance in his first collegiate 10k, crossing the finish line as the first Panther with a time of 31:50.3. He made a strategic move at the 6k mark, pushing hard in the final stretch to move up from 80th to 75th overall. 

Graduate student Jason Thomson finished second for the Panthers in a time of 32:13.5. He stuck with his pack for most of the race, in the final 1k, he found another gear, kicking hard to finish 95th overall. This was Thomson's first 10k at High Point. 

Hunter Steinau finished closely behind Thomson, crossing the line at 32:28.9 as the third Panther to finish. Steinau placed 107th overall.

In his second race of the season, Avery Crowell crossed the line at 32:46.1. Crowell stayed with his group for most of the race. 

Jake Tarosky and Graham Ferguson rounded out the Panthers' race effort, finishing with times of 33:23.2 and 33:33.5, respectively.

Aiden Morrison steadily wrapped up the Panthers' performance, crossing the line in 33:52.1 and finishing 169th overall.