CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Montreat College men's cross country team turned in a strong performance on Friday evening at the Royals Cross Country Challenge, hosted by Queens University of Charlotte, in Charlotte, N.C. Competing in an 8k field that featured seven NCAA Division I programs, the Cavaliers placed 11th out of 27 teams.
Montreat tallied 324 points, finishing two points ahead of Queens and one point behind UNC Pembroke. Fellow Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) member Milligan University captured the team title with 70 points.
Ryan Stade made an impressive season debut, clocking a 24:41.4 to place 14th among 248 runners. Ronald Way followed in 43rd with a time of 25:12.3, while freshman Angel Cruz recorded a personal-best 25:50.2 to finish 81st.
Johann Brink was the fourth Cav across the line, finishing 129th in 26:28.8 and cutting nearly a minute-and-a-half off his previous personal best. Elijah Eppley rounded out Montreat's scoring five, placing 133rd with a time of 26:30.3.
Senior Hunter Smathers and newcomer Luke Nickless also competed for the Cavaliers. Smathers finished 134th in 26:31.3, while Nickless recorded a time of 28:17.5 to place 213th.
"This is the best showing we have had as a team so far," said Head Coach Rylan Hincher. "We took big steps forward from what we did at the first two meets. Excited for this group to make another jump in two weeks at the NAIA Appalachian Challenge."
For full results from the Royals Cross Country Challenge, click here.
Montreat is back in action on Friday, Oct. 23 for the NAIA Appalachian Challenge, hosted by Tennessee Wesleyan University in Knoxville, Tenn.
