by Kevin Buczek
CARY, N.C.-Barton College had three PR times in its top seven runners to post the best team result out of six non-NCAA Division I men's cross country programs in the 21st annual Wolfpack Challenge hosted by North Carolina State University at the WakeMed Soccer Fields Friday evening.
BC also had five harriers run their first collegiate 5-kilometer race representing the Royal Blue and White as the Bulldogs took ninth overall out of 16 teams (half the field was DI programs). Barton picked up DII victories over Saint Augustine's University, Shaw University and Winston-Salem State University while also finishing ahead of two DI institutions in Gardner-Webb University and NC Central University.
Junior Lashley Winter continues to impress in his first season with the Bulldogs as he led Barton with a time of 16:28 in the 3.1 mile race. Winter crossed the finish line in 58th place overall out of 150 competitors.
Senior Austin Edmonds and sophomore Tyler Amerson added quality finishes in the upper half of the field placing 72nd and 73rd, respectively, with times of 16:49 and 16:55.
The Bulldogs next four endurance runners all crossed the finish line within a 30-second span. Sophomore Luar Mercado Lopez (17:41) led the pack and was followed closely by freshman Sebaston Barrett (17:44), sophomore Adam Pope (17:51) and senior Daniel Strutton (18:07).
Amerson, Pope and Strutton all set new collegiate personal record times in a 5k cross country race.
A trio of rookie Bulldogs capped the event for Barton in Garrett Farmerie (18:45), Cody Warner (18:48) and Jose Simpre (19:52).
Barton next competes in the Hagan Stone Cross Country Classic in Greensboro, N.C., on Saturday, October 4.
Barton Men's Cross Country Results
16:28.5 – Lashley Winter (58th/150)
16:49.1 – Austin Edmonds (72nd)
16:55.1 – Tyler Amerson (73rd)
17:41.4 – Luar Mercado Lopez (92nd)
17:44.8 – Sebaston Barrett (94th)
17:51.1 – Adam Pope (98th)
18:07.7 – Daniel Strutton (103rd)
18:45.5 – Garrett Farmerie (121st)
18:48.0 – Cody Warner (122nd)
19:52.2 – Jose Simpre (138th)
