SPARTANBURG, S.C. (Sept. 6, 2024) – Hitting the trails for the first time this season, the ETSU men's cross country team turned in a third-place performance at the USC Upstate Eye Opener on Friday night at Milliken Research Center.
 
Returning to the Buccaneer lineup for the first time since 2022, Josh Krafsur led ETSU runners as he crossed the line in 26:05.73 on the 8K course. Overall, Krafsur finished in 23rd place.
 
Sophomore Nolan Pedota turned in his best collegiate effort as he set a personal best with a time of 26:17.5, which resulted in a 27th place finish. Teammate Nate Hillis finished 30th with a time of 26:22.22, while Ben Kenner was two spots back in 26:27.41.
 
Grayson Cromer and Colin Everett both made their collegiate debuts on Friday and placed 34th and 35th. Cromer posted a mark of 26:31.07 and Everett crossed the line in 26:33.03.

"The one big positive from the men's race was our spread between one-thru-six," Director of Cross Country/Track and Field George Watts. "We will need to improve on those performances, but I can live with today's outcome. Overall, we've been working hard and I told both teams prior to the race that this is an early season meet and that everything we do is geared towards success in November."  

Individually, Southern Wesleyan's Ronan O'Neill won the race with a time of 24:50.44.
 
Furman won the team portion with 20 points, while Clemson was runner-up with 47 points and ETSU placed third with 120 points.
 
The Bucs return to the course in two weeks as ETSU competes in the Virginia Tech Alumni Invitational on Friday, Sept. 20.
 
For more information on Buccaneer men's cross country, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the men's cross country tab.