by Kevin Buczek
PLEASANT GARDEN, N.C.-Barton College posted the third best NCAA Division II team result to place eighth overall out of 15 institutions in the men's collegiate 8k race at the 2014 Hagan Stone Cross Country Classic Saturday morning.
Junior Lashley Winter – who was named the Conference Carolinas Runner of the Week two weeks ago – continued to pace the Bulldogs with a BC personal record time of 27 minutes and 39 seconds. Winter shaved 1:19 off his first 8,000-kilometer time to place 28th overall out of 142 runners and ninth out of 41 DII harriers.
Barton's top six runners all improved on their times from the Bulldog Invitational one month earlier.
The sophomore trio of Tyler Amerson (28:02/39th), Luar Mercado Lopez (29:14/66th) and Adam Pope (29:23/68th) all placed in the upper half of the field while freshman Sebaston Barrett (29:54/79th) provided BC with its final counting score.
A total of eight Bulldogs traversed the course including senior Daniel Strutton (29:56/81st), freshman Garrett Farmerie (31:42/100th) and freshman Jose Simpre (36:05/132nd).
Virginia Commonwealth University won the team title with three top-10 finishers. Unattached runner Jaiden Brandt won the individual crown with a time of 25:17.
Barton next competes in the Falcon Classic hosted by the University of Montevallo in Alabama on Saturday, Oct. 18.
Barton Men's Cross Country Results
27:39.70 – Lashley Winter (28th/142)
28:02.60 – Tyler Amerson (39th)
29:14.60 – Luar Mercado Lopez (66th)
29:23.80 – Adam Pope (68th)
29:54.40 – Sebaston Barrett (79th)
29:56.20 – Daniel Strutton (81st)
31:42.60 – Garrett Farmerie (100th)
36:05.30 – Jose Simpre (132nd)
