HPU Men’s Track and Field Shows Well at the Virginia Tech Invitational

BLACKSBURG, Va. – Two High Point runners finished in the top-eight of the 3,000-meter run to lead the HPU men’s track and field team on the second and final day of the Virginia Tech Invitational in Blacksburg, Va., on Saturday. Sophomore Jeff LaCoste finished in fourth and sophomore Reece Ayers finished in seventh for the Panthers.

“I think the men performed well in the events we competed in,” head coach Mike Esposito said. “To have two runners finish well in the 3,000 was a good result early in the season and a couple our freshmen really had some strong performances this weekend.

LaCoste crossed the finish line with a new career-best time of 8:31.26 to place fourth while Ayers finished three-spots back with a career-best time of 8:40.43.

Freshman Justus Watkins performed well in his first collegiate meet, finishing in ninth in the long jump with a distance of 6.91 meters (22-8). Sophomore Max Coleman joined Watkins in the long jump and finished in 18th with a distance of 6.21 meters (20-4.5).

Freshman Dennis Crawford competed in the 400-meter run for the first time as a collegiate and finished in 18th in a strong field with a time of 51.53.

HPU will return to action next weekend when the Panthers head to Lynchburg, Va., to compete in the Liberty Open.