SPARTANBURG, S.C. – On a pace just 15 seconds off his season-best time, junior Mason Hazel finished first among non-NCAA Division I runners and eighth overall, as the Anderson men's cross country team finished third among non-NCAA Division I teams at the USC Upstate Invitational, Saturday morning at the Milliken Research Center.
Hazel crossed the finish line in a time of 25:44.70, which was nearly 13 seconds ahead of the nearest runner, while teammate Ben Boerma claimed sixth place in a season-best time of 26:40.30. Freshman Brooks Hovis (26:41.52), who was of two Trojan newcomers to return to the 8K course, finished seventh after trimming more than 10 seconds off his previous season-best effort.
Senior Jesse Patrick finished in 14th place in a time of 27:35.90, with fellow senior Michael Burch (28:05.73) claiming 17th place. Sophomore John Drummond finished 23rd in a time of 28:50.94, while freshman Luke Horne (30:45.08) finished in 31st place in his second appearance on the course this season.
Anderson will get back on the course Friday at the Royals Challenge, hosted by Queens University of Charlotte.
