HPU Men’s Cross Country Places Seventh at Upstate Invitational

• Junior Alejandro Juan Torres finished as the runner-up in an 8K time of 24:58.7
• The Panthers placed seventh with 174 points
• HPU hosts the VertCross Invitational on Oct. 13

HIGH POINT, N.C. — The High Point University men’s cross country team placed seventh at the Upstate Invitational Saturday morning (Sept. 30) at the Roger Milliken Center in Spartanburg, S.C.

The Panther finished with 174 points for seventh place, behind ETSU (32), Appalachian State (53), Wofford (138), USC Upstate (145), Western Carolina (160) and Winthrop (165), but ahead of Mercer (197), Coastal Carolina (206), UNCW (245) and Gardner-Webb (253).

Junior Alejandro Juan Torres finished as the runner-up for the second-consecutive meet, finishing in an 8K time of 24:58.7. Sophomore TJ Morales was 38th overall in 27:05.7, while freshman Stephen Gray placed 53rd overall in 27:36.1. Junior Patrick Van Der Cruyssen (66th – 27:58.4) and freshman Nate Markle (81st – 28:39.7), making his collegiate debut, rounded out the scoring five for the Panthers.

“I’m very pleased with Alejandro,” HPU head coach Mike Esposito said. “As his training results have indicated, he’s ready to have a big end of the year. TJ engaged again early, but again he has to commit to finish the work. I firmly believe in him and we will keep working to get where he should be. Stephen Gray took a nice step forward and moved through the field well.

“Unfortunately, Anthony Sasso had to step out at the 5K mark, which hurt our final team score, but Nate Markel did a great job in his first race. We have to continue working, believing and far more willing to get uncomfortable.”

Next up, the Panthers return to action Oct 13 for their lone home meet of the season, the VertCross Invitational, in Kernersville at the Ivey M. Redmon Sports Complex.