HPU Cross Country Competes at Paul Short Run

*** both men’s and women’s recaps included ***

Panther Women Finish 17th in Big Field at Paul Short Run

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The High Point University women’s cross country team finished 17th in a big field Saturday (Sept. 29) at the Paul Short Run in Bethlehem, Pa.

The Panthers finished 17th out of 41 teams with a total of 516 points, defeating teams the like of William and Mary and East Carolina, who are currently ranked No. 9 and No. 15 in the Southeast Region, respectively.

“The team didn’t walk away from this race satisfied and we know adjustments that need to be made,” HPU head coach Remy Tamer said. “Some of the athletes softened a bit in the middle stages of the race which allowed large gaps to open between our scoring positions. In a race of this caliber, it doesn’t take much to be exposed and taken advantage of and we learned that lesson.

“However, there were individual successes within the team performance that were promising. Famke went toe-to-toe with some of the best runners in the NCAA and earned her spot at the table. Lindsey Ickes stepped up to her first 6K race, at possibly the largest race in her life, and worked her way into our top five and scored valuable team points.”

Sophomore Famke Heinst led the way for the Panthers, finishing fifth out of 353 finishers in a 6K-time of 20:38. Junior Keaton Case also finished in the top 100, placing 96th in 22:12.

Sophomore Julia Hellman placed 121st, while freshman Lindsey Ickes was 142nd. Rounding out the scoring five was junior Zoe Geis in 169th.

“Although we walk away unsatisfied, our hunger only grows,” Tamer said. “No ‘poor me’s’ on the trip home, just an agreement to each other that we are not victims and we have work to do.”

Next up, HPU will host the VertCross Invitational on Oct. 12, 2018 at the Ivey M. Redmon Sports Complex in Kernersville. The women will contest in a 5K race at 4 p.m., followed by a men’s 8K race at 4:45 p.m.


HPU Men Conclude Action at Paul Short Run

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The High Point University men’s cross country team competed at the Paul Short Run Saturday (Sept. 29) at the Goodman Campus Cross country Course in Bethlehem, Pa. The Panthers finished 37th with 994 points.

“It was a very humbling day to say the least,” HPU head coach Mike Esposito said. “We talk about the value of struggle so we will see what lessons we learn.”

Sophomore Hocine Bouchrak was the top finisher for HPU with a 32nd-place finish in an 8K-time of 25:03. Freshman Spencer Smucker placed 190th in 26:10 to place second on the squad.

Sophomores Anthony Sasso and Stephen Gray finished 311th and 314th, respectively, while junior TJ Morales was 318th to conclude the scoring five.

Next up, HPU will host the VertCross Invitational on Oct. 12, 2018 at the Ivey M. Redmon Sports Complex in Kernersville. The women will contest in a 5K race at 4 p.m., followed by a men’s 8K race at 4:45 p.m.