RICHMOND, Va. – The High Point University men's cross country team takes first place at the Richmond invitational on Friday morning, at Pole Green Park, where the team beat Duke University by four points with help from Avery Crowell who took second overall in the 8k with a time of 24.38.3.
 
Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Remy Tamer: "A win is always something to be proud of and to celebrate. Some teams go years without a team win. So these men should recognize the importance of that. However, we didn't nail it, we got away with it. There is plenty of room for improvement with our performance and it is largely from finding our collective identity. We are trying to blossom from a group of individuals who wear the same jersey into a team of one. A team with one goal, one mindset, and one collective drive to attain it. Avery Crowell set the tone with another top finish for our team. Gavin Stevens showed he is willing to step up and go big when we need it. It was nice to add Bence Acsadi into the mix to add some firepower up front. We will need to be better going into championship season but these men are moving in on their target. They will have the chance to be who they want to be when it matters most."

The Panthers were led by Crowell who finished second place but with other finishers, Bence Acsadi and Blake Nicholson, HPU was able to secure the first place spot in the race. Acsadi placed eighth overall with a time of 23:13.8 with Nicholson following taking the 12th place spot with a time of 25:22.1. The top 20 finishers for High Point included, Simon Triezenberg, Jimmy Mullarkey, Gitch Hayes and Gavin Stevens. Triezenberg finished 16th with a time of 25:31.2 with Mullarkey on his tail finishing 17th clocking in a time of 25:32.4. 19th and 20th spots went to Hayes with a time of 25:36.9 and Stevens who ended at the 25:38.5 mark. 

Other runners for the Panthers were Max Bonilla, Clark LaLomia, and Brayden Davis. 

Greg Abel, Alex Contreras, Will Katic, and Jackson Keefer did not race for High Point. 
 
Up Next: HPU's next stop will be to Princeton, N.J., for the Joe Handleman '52 Fall Classic on Friday, October 16, hosted by Princeton University.