BLACKSBURG, Va. (Sept. 19, 2025) - After announcing his return with a strong finish last week in Huntsville, Jason Bowers topped the charts in Blacksburg. 

The junior from South Africa dominated the Hokie Invitational on Friday evening, winning by over 29 seconds with a time of 22:31.1. Bowers was the only runner under 23 minutes in the field of 84 to lead the ETSU men's cross country team to a runner-up finish in the 7800m event. The victory is the third individual crown for Bowers, who also won in Blacksburg in 2023 at the Virginia Tech Alumni Invitational.  

The women also finished second, led by Julia Visgueiro with a 21:52.7, good for sixth in her first cross country race of the season on the extended 5800m women's course. 

Chance Underwood and Garrett Hawkins notched top ten finishes for the men with respective times of 23:57.0 and 23:58.0, coming home eighth and ninth. Nolan Pedota ran a 24:49.5 to finish 14th, and Wesley Luisi ran a 25:00.4 to round out the scoring places in 19th. Hayden Waleski ran his first race of the year and came home 24th at 25:14.5. 

In addition to Visgueiro, Sophie Beach also posted a top 10 time for the women at 22:13.8, finishing ninth. Taylor Walker finished 11th at 22:41.3, and Camryn Johnson was next across the line 13 seconds later. Kendall Johnson took the last scoring position for the Bucs in 15th with a 23:10.8. Freshmen Eliza Everett (23:48.9) and Madalyn Mahoney (24:02.2) also posted top 20 finishes, with Mahoney two seconds ahead of senior Bonita Gray in 20th at 24:04.2. 

The Bucs will get two weeks to recover and train before their fourth race of the fall in Louisville at the Swags Louisville Cross Country Classic on October 4. 

For more information on ETSU cross country, go to ETSUBucs.com.