The men’s and women’s cross-country teams competed in the Virginia Tech Alumni Invitational on Sept. 20. The event consisted of six schools, including ETSU.
Junior Ben Varghese (Kingsport, Tennessee) claimed his first collegiate win at the event. Varghese competed in the 8K run and won with a time of 24:25.9. The last time a Buccaneer accomplished this goal was back in 2014 when Simeon Roberts (Greeneville, Tennessee) won at the Catamount Classic.
Varghese also aided the Bucs in placing third overall at the meet. Redshirt juniors Malick Gemechu (Johnson City) and Noah Charles (Johnson City) finished in the top 20, placing 18th and 19th.
Senior Adam Bradtmueller in his season debut, placed 22nd in the event, finishing 25:52:4, while redshirt freshman Josh Krafsur (Fort Collins, Colorado) recorded his career best 26:05.7 placing 31st.
The men’s team finished with 81 points, with Virginia Tech taking first place with 22.
The women’s team placed sixth overall out of the competing eight teams. Junior Makayla Shaw (Jonesborough, Tennessee) and sophomore Shila Kapaya (Knoxville, Tennessee) led the Bucs, finishing side by side at 31st and 32nd, clocking in close numbers with 23:29 and 23:32.1.
Freshman Lindsay Holliday (Maryville, Tennessee), junior Lindsay Bruce (Knoxville, Tennessee) and senior Mia Depillo (Fort Wayne, Indiana) placed in the 40s with Bruce finishing at 24:11.6 and Holliday close behind with 24:16.8, while Depillo finished with 24.26.3
The women’s team finished with 154 points, while Virginia Tech took first with 30.
“The cross-country season really begins this weekend,” says head coach George Watts, as they prepare for Southern Conference competition in the upcoming months.
The Bucs are coming off a canceled event on Sept. 13 due to inclement weather. The Bucs placed 5th in their first event of the season at the Covered Bridge Open.
The Bucs have two more events before the Southern Conference Championship on Nov. 2. They travel to Louisville, Kentucky, on Oct. 5 to compete in the Louisville Classic, and they head to Terre Haute, Indiana, after for the NCAA Pre Nationals.
