by Benny Benton
CARY, N.C. – Led by a trio of freshmen, the Barton College men's cross country team finished fourth overall and second among intercollegiate programs Friday in the 10-team field at the Adidas XC Challenge, which was held at Wake Med Soccer Park.
Evan Lee, a Wilson, N.C., native and graduate of Hunt High School, paced the Bulldogs with a time of 17:43.6 on the 5K course that earned 38th place in the field of 105.
Teammates Greg Gibbs and Alex Kelly were not far behind. Gibbs, a resident of Newark, N.J., earned 40th place with a time of 17:52 flat. Kelly, a resident of Newport News, Va., was another three spots back in 43rd with a time of 18:01.9.
Barton also received a top-50 finish from sophomore Leslie Jones, who squeezed in at No. 49 with a mark of 18:20 flat. Senior Qasim Ray provided the team's final counting score, placing 78th with a time of 20:03.2.
The Bulldogs totaled 133 points in finishing fourth overall. The NC State University Club team won the event with 28 points. Virginia Wesleyan University was second with 58 points, followed closely by the Bull City Track Club in third with 60. BC finished six points ahead of fifth-place Hampden-Sydney College.
Barton will return to action on Saturday, Sept. 23, at the Bulldog Stampede in Wingate, N.C. The event, which will be hosted by Wingate University, will serve as a preview of the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional, which will take place on the same course in early November.
