BOONE, N.C. — With the majority of the High Point University men’s cross country team in Arkansas, seven HPU runners competed in the Blue Ridge Open and placed eighth as a team on Friday in Boone, N.C. Junior John Yankello was the Panthers’ top finisher in 52nd overall.
“John Yankello and Chris Colo both ran very well today,” said HPU assistant coach Jenna Wrieden. “John established himself in the lead pack and really fought to the finish. Chris moved well through the race and they finished together.”
Yankello took 52nd in 25:45.07 and Colo placed 53rd in 25:45.12. Freshman Ben Robinson was High Point’s third finisher in 70th overall in a time of 26:05.96.
Senior Dakota Peachee placed 75th in 26:17.68. Freshmen Kevin Maguire and Eddie Whitlock finished 92nd and 93rd, respectively. Maguire finished in 26:41.51 and Whitlock came in at 26:43.43. Freshman Kevin Kreider placed 112th in 27:30.42.
Wake Forest won the race with 31 points followed by George Mason (43) and East Tennessee State (107). Besides HPU, five other Big South schools competed on Friday: VMI (fifth), Coastal Carolina (10th), Longwood (12th), Radford (13th) and Gardner-Webb (14th).
High Point’s top seven runners are competing in the Chile Pepper Festival on Saturday morning at the University of Arkansas. It’s HPU’s final test before the Big South Championship on Oct. 29 in Rock Hill, S.C.