HPU Cross Country Competes at NCAA Southeast Regional Championships

HPU Women Finish 18th at NCAA Southeast Regional

EARLYSVILLE, Va. — The 2017 Big South Champion High Point University women’s cross country team finished 18th at the NCAA Southeast Regional Championships Friday morning (Nov. 10) at Panorama Farms in Earlysville, Va.

The Panthers finished with 570 points for 18th place out of 37 teams, which is their best finish at the regional since 2011. It is tied for the third-best finish at the regional, following a 16th-place finish in 2008 and 17th in 2004.

Freshman Famke Heinst, the Big South individual champion, was the first Panther across the line in 78th overall in a 6K time of 22:14.7. Freshman Julia Hellman finished 94th in 22:27.6, while fellow first-year Caroline Baudinet was 120th in 22:44.0. A pair of sophomores, Zoe Geis and Keaton Case, rounded out the scoring five in 133rd (22:55.2) and 152nd (23:10.5).

“Today was not the way we wanted to end the season, but we earned it,” HPU head coach Remy Tamer said. “Although there were some individual triumphs, we buckled under the pressure as a team. I believe we missed crucial opportunities in the race as a result of me, as a coach, not preparing the group mentally to engage in the present moment and thrive on a big stage. We have a lot to learn as a group and will have a long list of improvements to make for next cross country season.

“However, there is no better teacher than failure and I couldn’t ask for a better group of young women to embark on this journey with. This could be the catalyst for championships down the line.”

Panther Men Place 22nd at NCAA Southeast Regional

EARLYSVILLE, Va. — The High Point University men’s cross country team placed 22nd at the NCAA Southeast Regional Championships Friday (Nov. 10) at Panorama Farms in Earlysville, Va. HPU finished in 22nd place out of 32 teams with 646 points.

Freshman Hocine Bouchark led the Panthers across the line in 63rd in a 10K time of 30:52.2. Junior Alejandro Juan Torres was close behind in 75th in 31:07.7.

Freshman Siro Pina Cardona was 158th in 32:41.7, while sophomore TJ Morales placed 186th in 33:29.7. Junior Patrick Van Der Cruyssen passed a couple of runners in the last 100 meters to finish 189th in 33:33.1.

“It was a positive end to a difficult year,” HPU head coach Mike Esposito said. “It certainly helped getting Alejandro back in the fold. I was very proud of how he raced, as well as Hocine. I thought it was a step forward for the group as a whole. We have an awful lot of work to do to get ready for track, but I believe this group will make a huge jump both indoor and outdoor during the track and field season.”