Results

ELON, N.C. (Oct. 18) – In the final race ahead of the conference championship, the University of Mount Olive men's cross country team placed sixth overall in the team standings on Friday at the Phoenix Invitational hosted by Elon.

The Trojans featured eight runners in the field and tallied 153 points to earn sixth place in a field with five Division I programs. Elon earned its home invitational title with 40 points behind three individuals in the top 10 overall. Just nine points back, VCU finished second overall with 49 while Charleston placed third with 56 total points.

Freshman Titus Tanui led Mount Olive with a 37th-place finish after crossing the line in 28 minutes, 15.7 seconds in the eight-kilometer race at the Elon Cross Country Course. He posted an average mile pace of 5:41 in a field of nearly 70 competitors. Sophomore Josh Hendren and freshman Ayden Thompson registered the same time at 28:20.8 to place 38th and 39th overall.

Senior Richard Villafranco finished 41st after crossing the line in 28:30.9 while freshman Cullen Pfanmiller rounded out the team scorers in 44th with a mark of 29:23.2. Additionally, freshman James Cabrera (48th, 29:40.4), sophomore Devon Coughlin (56th, 32:44.4), and freshman Adam Hill (58th, 33:41.8) competed in the race.

Elon redshirt sophomore Evan Taylor secured individual medalist honors by 10.7 seconds after posting a time of 25:27.8.

Mount Olive is set to compete at the Conference Carolinas Championships on Saturday, Oct. 26, in Spartanburg, South Carolina, at the Milliken Research Park.