RESULTS

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 8 Lee University men's cross country team opened its season with a second-place finish at the Tennessee Cross Country Invitational. The four-mile race was held at Cherokee Farms Cross Country Course.

The host Vols, ranked No. 16 in NCAA Division I, claimed a slim seven point win over the Flames. Tennessee accumulated 24 points, while Lee posted 31. Tennessee Tech was third with 96 points and Chattanooga placed fourth (101). UT's Eli Nahom was the individual winner with a time of 19:53.30.

Aaron Himes was the first Lee runner across the finish line. He finished third overall at 20:04.90. Matthew Fowler was fifth with a time of 20:08.90. Ezekiel Harless stopped the clock at 20:31.40 for 12^th place and Ryan Lovelace was 14^th (20:35.10). Owen Pearce was 16^th (20:43.70) to become Lee's final scorer.

Stephen Clark and Jon Fielding Stogner were the Flames' spacers. Clark finished the race at 20:46.80 (17^th) and Stogner was 19^th (20:50.90).

Roberto Fajardo gave Lee eight runners in the top 20 after crossing the finish line at 20:51.20. Jacob Hatcher was 24^th (21:06.30), Caleb Guthery placed 26^th (21:12.80), Evan Moore finished 27^th (21:17.10) and Tal Old recorded a time of 22:32.20 for 39^th.

The Flames return to action on Friday, September 15 at the Southern Showcase in Huntsville, Alabama. The 8K race will be contested at John Hunt Cross Country Park.