Men's Cross Country Places Third at High Point Vertcross

KERNERSVILLE, N.C. - App State men's cross country posted a third-place finish on Friday evening at the High Point Vertcross at Kernersville, N.C.

It's the third time in four meets this season the Mountaineers have finished in the top three. App State finished with 60 points while High Point captured second with 47 points. Duke claimed the team title with 32 points. The Blue Devils and Mountaineers came into the race ranked fifth and ninth, respectively, in the most recent Southeast Regional poll on Oct. 4. 

Daniel Smith paced eight Mountaineers who finished in the top 35. His time of 25:54.7 placed the senior in 10th. Oliver Wilson-Cook crossed the line to finish 14th with a time of 26:02. Right behind Wilson-Cook was teammate Ryan Teuscher, who posted a 16th-place finish with a time of 26:05.6. 

Dwayne Lillie clocked in with a time of 26:14.4 to finish 18th. Chase Burrell's time of 26:28.6 gave the freshman a 23rd-place showing. Calbert Guest rounded out the top 25 with a time of 26:33.1, finishing in 25th. 

Caleb Kirchhoff (31st) and Jackson Nichols (34th) continued the solid day for the Black and Gold with times of 26:57.9 and 27:02.6, respectively.

App State returns to action next Friday in the Wildcat XC Classic in Charlotte, N.C.

Coach Curcio on the Course
The weather in Kernersville gave both teams a good feel as to what to expect in Mobile for the Sun Belt Championships. The course is a similar grass loop course as well. 

On the Men's Performance
The men were running without two of our top 4. They followed a race plan to move up throughout the race. WE moved from eighth to third, but ran out of real estate. We didn't execute as well as we did at the last race, but the Louisville is the only meet we were at full strength. 

Looking ahead
We'll get everyone healthy and ready for what's sure to be another close Sun Belt Championship in Mobile.