RESULTS

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The Lee University men's cross country team finished seventh out of 32 teams Friday morning at the Southern Showcase. The 8K race was hosted by Jacksonville State University at John Hunt Cross Country Course.

Ole Miss was the overall team winner with 39 points. Auburn University was second with 81 points and Alabama placed third with 110 points. Ole Miss is receiving votes in the latest NCAA Division I ratings, while the Crimson Tide was No. 23. The Flames, ranked No. 7 in NCAA DII, collected 149 points for seventh. Lee was the top non-DI team in the meet. The Flames finished one spot ahead of 30^th-ranked Augusta (216 points).

Matthew Fowler and Aaron Himes were the first Lee runners across the finish line. Fowler was 12^th overall with a time of 23:59.90 and Himes finished 16^th (24:16.40). The individual winner was Auburn's Ryan Kinnane (23:19.90).

Ezekiel Harless stopped the clock at 24:39.50 for 32^nd and Roberto Fajardo was 43^rd at 24:47.90. Jacob Hatcher was Lee's final scorer at 24.51.20 (48^th).

Jon Fielding Stogner and Caleb Guthery were the team's spacers. Stogner was 49^th (24:52.20) and Guthery (24:56.20) finished 52^nd.

Owen Pearce's time of 24:59.10 was good for 56^th. Ryan Lovelace (25:06.70) placed 65^th, Stephen Clark was 71^st (25:11.40) and Luke Gaddis finished 74^th (25:12.70). Tal Old completed the circuit at 26:18.20 for 125^th.

The Flames are scheduled to return to action on September 30 at the 22^nd Annual Live in Lou Cross Country Classic. The competition will be held at E.P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park in Louisville, Kentucky.

Coach Caleb Morgan's Thoughts:

"Our men were solid today. We expected to finish a couple of spots higher in the team standing."
 
"Matthew Fowler had a phenomenal race going under 24:00 minutes for the first time in his career."
 
"This group has a tremendous upside, we haven't put it all together, but I'm sure we will as the season progresses."