by Benny Benton
WILSON, N.C. – Newcomer Lashley Winter claimed a top-15 finish in his Barton College debut, leading the Bulldogs to a third-place finish in the second annual Bulldog Cross Country Invitational on Friday evening at the J. Burt Gillette Athletic Complex.
Winter, a junior college transfer from Brooklyn, N.Y., completed the 8K course in a time of 28:58.75 to place 14th. Senior teammate Austin Edmonds crossed the line in 16th place with a time of 29:11.91, and sophomore Tyler Amerson gave BC a third top-20 finish when he placed 18th with an effort of 29:16.47. Amerson's time was a personal best, surpassing the 30:39.27 he set at the 2013 Conference Carolinas Championships.
Barton scored a total of 98 points in the event, a single point better than league member Pfeiffer University. UNC Pembroke dominated the eight-team field, placing seven runners in the top eight to claim the team title with 20 points. Louisburg College took second with 58 points, led by individual meet champion Haben Zemichael, who produced a winning time of 27:27.72.
Francis Marion finished fifth with 120 points, followed by Shaw University (170), Methodist University (197) and Saint Augustine's College (203).
In addition to Barton's three top-20 finishes, the Bulldogs received counting team scores from sophomore Luar Mercado Lopez (33rd overall, 30:39.16), freshman Sebaston Barrett (34th, 30:55.93), sophomore Adam Pope (36th, 31:11.13) and freshman Cody Warner (47th, 33:50.35).
Also participating for the Bulldogs were senior Daniel Strutton (50th, 34:34.82) and freshman Jose Simpre (55th, 35:09.67).
Barton will return to action on Friday, Sept. 19, in the Wolfpack Invitational hosted by NC State University at the WakeMed Cross Country Course in Cary, N.C.
Barton Men's Cross Country Results
28:58.75 – Lashley Winter (14th/70)
29:11.91 – Austin Edmonds (16th)
29:16.47 – Tyler Amerson (18th)
30:39.16 – Luar Mercado Lopez (33rd)
30:55.93 – Sebaston Barrett (34th)
31:11.13 – Adam Pope (36th)
33:50.35 – Cody Warner (47th)
34:34.82 – Daniel Strutton (50th)
35:09.67 – Jose Simpre (55th)
