BOONE, N.C. – Avery Martin's 13th-place finish led the VMI Keydet men's cross country team to a seventh-place team finish at the Blue Ridge Open, contested Friday afternoon at Appalachian State's home course in Boone, N.C. The meet was VMI's final competition before the team hosts the Big South Championships Nov. 2.
For the second straight event, Martin led the way for the Keydets, this time covering the 8K course in a time of 25:11 to pace a VMI team that saw six of its 10 runners set new personal bests.
The Keydets scored 175 points, just seven points behind one of the Big South's preseason favorites, High Point, who finished in sixth with 168 markers. Much like at the Big South Preview meet, VMI used its depth to its advantage. The Keydets placed three runners in the top 40, while HPU had the meet's top Division I finisher, Jeff LaCoste, finish fourth, but had just one other runner in the top-42.
High Point team leader Patrick Crawford sat out the meet with an undisclosed injury, and his status for the Big South Championship is unknown.
Appalachian State (102) won the meet, with a Cedarville team ranked regionally in Division II finishing second (118) and George Mason (124) placing third among the 28 scored teams.
“I'm really impressed with our men's team,” said cross country coach
Jennifer Fazioli. “Most of them went out very aggressively because I asked them to, due to the size of the field. That may have hurt them a little at the end, but all made significant time improvements, either setting personal bests or lowering their times from when we were here for our season opener. Clearly, we're making strides in both racing and training. To be just seven points back of High Point at this point is a great sign, and we are really looking forward to conference.”
Cabell Willis (31st/25:28) and
Patrick Spahn (40th/25:33) joined Martin in the top 40, with Spahn posting a personal best time 51 seconds better than his time on this course August 30.
Sean Helmke and
Luke Phillips rounded out VMI's top five with personal best efforts, with Helmke finishing 48th in 25:40 and Phillips crossing the stripe in 80th at 26:13.
The VMI finishers continued with
Will Thompson, who placed 89th in setting a new seasonal best of 26:24, and
Brandon White's 104th-place result (26:38).
Jacob Lysher (129th/26:58),
Zachary Chase (135th/27:08) and
Matthew Pasier (187th/28:31) rounded out Keydet competitors, with Chase and Pasier setting personal bests.
VMI cross country returns to action Nov. 2, competing in and hosting the Big South Championships at the Vista Links Golf Course in Buena Vista, Va. Action gets underway at 10:30 a.m.
