by Benny Benton
KERNERSVILLE, N.C. – Barton College sophomore Joel Lagat earned his first collegiate cross country victory on Saturday after leading a field of 25 runners across the line in the NCAA Division II race at the Hagan Stone Cross Country Classic.
The Kenyan native finished nearly 45 seconds ahead of his nearest competitor after posting a time of 27:41.90 on the 8K course at Redmon Park.
Lagat, who also has a runner-up finish for the Bulldogs this season, helped Barton to a second-place showing in the four-team field. University of Virginia-Wise won the event with 36 points, followed by Barton with 47, Tusculum College with 49 and Bluefield State College with 86.
The Bulldogs placed three other runners inside the top-15. Junior Tyler Amerson was fifth with a mark of 28:43.70, senior Lashley Winter was ninth with a time of 29:25 flat, and Sebaston Barrett was 12th with an effort of 30:39.10.
Providing Barton's final counting score was junior Luar Mercado Lopez, who placed 20th with a mark of 33:53.20. He finished one spot ahead of freshman teammate Leslie Jones, who recorded a time of 34:21.90.
Barton will compete next Friday in the Royals Cross Country Challenge, which will be hosted by Queens University at McAlpine Creek Park in Charlotte.
