Spartans Open Season With Runner-Up Finish at VSU Invite

VALDOSTA, Ga. – The University of Tampa men's cross country team started its 2017 season with an impressive second-place effort at the Valdosta State Invitational.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
UT Finish: 2nd, 36 points
Overall Champion: Georgia College, 32 points
Location: Freedom Park | Valdosta, Ga.
Host Institution: Valdosta State University
Distance: 6K
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TOP SPARTAN PERFORMERS:
• Michael Wilson | 5th overall, 19:58.3

• Nick Morfesi | 6th overall, 19:58.6

• Brent Turner | 7th overall, 20:00.3

• Trevor Kattenberg | 9th overall, 20:14.1

• Stone Malick | 11th overall, 20:15.1

OTHER NOTABLES:
• Three of UT's top five runners are freshmen, including Wilson, Kattenberg and Malick.

• A total of seven teams competed, including South Region opponents Georgia College (1), Valdosta State (3), Flagler (4) and Clayton State (5).

• UT was the lone Sunshine State Conference school to compete.

• Tyler Roberts (14th), Brendan Twiggs (15th) and Mitch Arnold (16) were just outside the top-five for Tampa.

• Joe Weber made it nine Spartans in the top-20 as he was 19th overall.

• Head coach Dror Vaknin entered a total of 16 runners.

UP NEXT:
Tampa will compete in a pair of races on September 9, sending runners to the North Florida and Florida Tech Invitationals.

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