KERNERSVILLE, N.C. -- In their final race before defending their Sun Belt title, Appalachian State men's cross country finished third of 18 teams at the VertCross Invitational on Friday evening.
The Mountaineers posted 94 points in the meet. East Tennessee State captured the team title with 36 points and Coastal Carolina was second with 84 points.
Ben Cignarale was the first member of the Black and Gold to cross the finish line, placing 13th overall in a field of 157 runners in a 8k PR time of 25:59.9.
Isaac Benz and
Zachary Mercer also posted top-20 finishes for App State. Benz was 16th overall with a time of 26:11.33 and Mercer placed 19th in 26:23.8.
Collin Loy finished 24th and
Michael Flanagan placed 26th in 26:34.77 and 26:36.52, respectively.
Ryan Brown also finished in the top-30, crossing 29th overall in 26:38.94.
Appalachian State will now shift its focus to the Sun Belt Championships on Oct. 27 in Mobile, Ala. Last season, the Mountaineers captured the first Sun Belt title in program history by three points over UT Arlington.
Team Results
1. East Tennessee State, 36; 2. Coastal Carolina, 84;
3. Appalachian State, 94; 4. UNC Greensboro, 138; 5. Marshall, 149; 6. VMI, 155; 7. Louisburg, 157; 8. High Point, 158; 9. North Carolina A&T, 258; 10. Radford, 266; 11. Presbyterian, 338; 12. Longwood, 372; 13. Coker, 387; 14. North Carolina Wesleyan, 397; 15. UNCW, 431; 16. Claflin, 516; 17. William Peace, 542; 18. Patrick Henry CC, 544.
