RADFORD MEN NOTCH SEASON BESTS AT ADDED MEET

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Radford men's cross country team got three season-best performances to finish in the top third of a 39-team field at the Royals XC Challenge, hosted by Queens University, on Friday.

Competing in the meet on short notice after missing out on several earlier races, the Highlanders placed 13th overall and were second among five Big South programs in the field.

Jacob Black clocked his second personal-best time of the season and once again paced Radford. He completed the 8K course at Charlotte's McAlpine Park in 25:27.7, bettering his time from two weeks ago by 33 seconds. The sophomore placed 28th in a field of 345 runners.

Freshman Jeff Gibson and redshirt freshman Jeff Hetrick were the Highlanders second and third finishers, with both improving on their previous times. Gibson's time of 26:03.9 was more than a minute faster and put him 53rd overall, while Hetrick bettered his time from three weeks ago by more than two minutes and finished 102nd.

Ryan Farnan was next for Radford with a time of 27:24.7 (137th overall), followed closely by Brady Guertin in 27:27.4 (140th). Harrison Murn competed his first race of the season in 27:30.5 (143rd).

"Our varsity group did a great job executing our workout plan this afternoon" head coach Eric Thatcher said. "I was happy to see huge improvement from a couple freshmen that were asked to bring their best to the race. I also thought that our returning group did an effective job pacing our freshmen to significant personal records while following the workout that will help them perform at their best at the end of the month."

Campbell was the lone Big South team to finish ahead of the Highlanders and placed first overall. RU placed well ahead of Winthrop (21^st), Coastal Carolina (23^rd) and Charleston Southern (37^th).

Radford's men will return to action on Friday, Oct. 16 and be joined by the Highlander women as they compete at the Wake Forest Invitational in Kernersville, N.C.

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Players Mentioned

Jacob Black: Dis.; 5' 9"; Sophomore

Brady Guertin: Dis.; 5' 5"; Sophomore

Harrison Murn: Dis.; 5' 11"; Senior

Jeff Gibson: Dis.; 5' 11"; Freshman

Ryan Farnan: Dis.; 5' 9"; Redshirt Senior

Players Mentioned

Jacob Black
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: Dis.

Brady Guertin
: 5' 5"; Sophomore
: Dis.

Harrison Murn
: 5' 11"; Senior
: Dis.

Jeff Gibson
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: Dis.

Ryan Farnan
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Senior
: Dis.