by Kevin Buczek, Director of Athletics Media Relations
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.-Senior Sammy Serem (Nindi Hills, Kenya) and sophomore Jonathan Stallings (Durham, N.C.) both posted top-10 finishes to lead the Barton College men's cross country team to a second place finish out of three teams in the UNC Invitational on Friday afternoon at Finley Fields.
Serem paced the Royal Blue and White with an impressive sixth place finish out of 26 with a five-kilometer time of 15:23. Stallings also broke the 16-minute barrier finishing ninth overall with a speed of 15:49.
A much deeper Bulldogs roster helped Barton edge out Division I foe Gardner-Webb by one point. Stallings finished one position ahead of GWU's second fastest runner while BC's final three scoring runners all finished in the top 15.
Senior Christopher Free (Virginia Beach, Va.) and freshman Austin Edmonds (Sandy Ridge, N.C.) placed 11th and 12th, respectively, with times of 16:42 and 17:07. Free and Edmonds crossed the finish line just ahead of Gardner-Webb's third and fourth harriers. Junior Walter Ngeno (Kericho, Kenya) rounding out Barton's top-five scorers with a time of 17:51, which was good for 14th place. Ngeno was 10 seconds faster than the GWU's fifth runner, who finished 15th, as Barton squeaked out second place by the slimmest of margins.
The host Tar Heels with a score of 21 points by placing all six runners in the top eight. Barton totaled 53 points and Gardner-Webb completed the tri-meet with 54.
Barton second year head coach Karen Godlock, who was a three-time ACC cross country champion and All-American for UNC Chapel Hill, was pleased with her team's performance to start the year as she coached a cross country team at her alma mater for the first time.
A pair of freshman Bulldogs made impressive collegiate debuts as Barton adds all important depth to its sixth and seventh positions for larger races. Jalaeme Gomez (Mitchellville, Md.) set a benchmark time of 18:16 and Daniel Strutton (Rocky Mount, N.C.) used a strong leg kick at the end to stop the clock at 18:23. Senior Philip Averre (Wake Forest, N.C.) followed closely behind at 18:39.
Barton will compete in another DI hosted race at the Adidas Seahawk Invitational hosted by UNC Wilmington on Friday, September 9. The men's 5k race is scheduled to start after the women's race at 6:30 p.m.
Barton Results
6. Sammy Serem 15:23.25
9. Jonathan Stallings 15:49.87
11. Christopher Free 16:42.34
12. Austin Edmonds 17:07.49
15. Walter Ngeno 17:51.49
18. Jalaeme Gomez 18:16.94
19. Daniel Strutton 18:23.42
21. Phil Avarre 18:39.93
26. Stoney Locklear 27:11.30
