Troy Childress
Reporter

The men’s and women’s cross country teams placed second and third, respectively, as they traveled to Appalachian State (N.C.) for the Mountaineer Open on Saturday.  The men’s four-mile race featured seven teams, including Division I powerhouse Virginia Tech University.

The men were led by senior Chris Wright with a time of 20:39, good enough for a 14^th place finish. Wright was followed by senior Brandon Talbert who finished 26^th, freshman Will Frye, 31^st, and junior Jair Collie, 34^th. The five runners combined for a final score of 89.

Virginia Tech took first place honors, claiming the five top spots to finish with a score of 15. With a score of 50, East Tennessee State University claimed second. 

Five team members is the minimum needed to qualify for a team score. The team score is calculated by adding the placement of the team’s first five runners to cross the finish line. The fifteen scored by the Virginia Tech men is the best possible team score.

“Coach (Chris Layne) was really pleased with all the times,” said Wright. “Not everybody is 100 percent, but we’re pretty good overall.”

Layne said the team is hurting  “in the depth department.”

The unusually small men’s team, with only five members, has adjusted from the normal eight to ten man team. “Three members from last year’s team did not come back. Also, a runner from Kenya was supposed to join the team, but his paperwork was not processed in time. We’re sort of just getting on our feet,” said freshman Chris Wells.

The Lady Buffaloes were led by senior All-American Megan Lease, who placed fourth with a time of 19:01. Junior Marta Zimon finished four spots behind Lease and freshman Jacklyn Talbert followed one spot behind Zimon. Freshman Emily Schmitt and sophomores Lindsey Davis and Kortney Goulds all ran personal bests, helping lift the team to its second-place finish.

“Our top four girls finished under twenty minutes, which is excellent” sophomore Kristen Bartlett said,

Coach Layne, boasting about his women’s team, said “it’s the best performance in the six years I’ve been here.”

The Virginia Tech women also took first place with 17 points. The Buffaloes followed with 50 points and East Tennessee State finished third with 77 points.

“Coach brought in a lot of really good freshmen,” noted Davis. “Our team is really big with lots of talent. We’re really hoping to win regionals and qualify for nationals.”