WINGATE, N.C. - Paced by sophomore Mason Hazel's sixth-place finish, the Anderson men's cross country team placed eighth at the Bulldog Stampede, hosted by Wingate on Saturday morning at the Bulldogs' Cross Country Facility.
"The team is still growing," said Anderson head coach Kevin Licht. "We didn't run poorly, but there are some small things we need to correct."
The 8k event, billed as an early glimpse of the 2015 NCAA Southeast Regional, featured a 19-team field that included seven of the regionally top-ranked teams. Mount Olive, ranked first in the latest U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) poll, lived up to its billing by outpacing No. 2-ranked Queens for the team title. Perennial SAC powerhouse Mars Hill captured third.
Hazel ran a season-best 26:10.88 to claim the sixth spot, with teammate Ben Boerma taking 32nd in a time of 27:29.97. Junior Ned Kennedy (27:53.97) crossed the finish line in 47th, while junior Jesse Patrick finished 56th in a time of 28:10.63.
Junior Michael Burch garnered the 80th spot in a time of 28:49.00, while freshman John Drummond posted a 99th-place finish in a time of 29:27.37.
Anderson is scheduled to get back in action, Friday, Oct. 9, when the Trojans will make their second appearance in the Queen City to compete in the Royals Challenge.
