The William & Mary men's cross country team opened the 2015 campaign with a resounding win at the CNU XC Opener on Tuesday night, defeating VCU with seven points to 18. The race was a 10K relay, with each harrier running two legs of 3K and 2K each.
The team of Ryan Thompson (Bristow, Va.) and Faris Sakallah (Chantilly, Va.) cruised to the win, timing 30:13.93 over the 10K course. AJ Tucker (Durham, N.C.) and Chris Hoyle (Oak Hill, Va.) were next over the line for the Tribe in fifth place overall, 30:36.64, while Asher Smith-Rose (Raleigh, N.C.) and Ryan Gousse (Apopka, Fla.) combined to run 30:45.64 in seventh place. They were right in front of Paul Gates (Fairfax, Va.) and Nathaniel Hermsmeier (Charlottesville, Va.) in 30:50.39, and Kurtis Steck (Williamsburg, Va.) and Mac Haight (Vienna, Va.) rounded out the team effort in 31:39.60.
William & Mary is back in action in two weeks, hosting the 57th Annual W&M Cross Country Invitational on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 18-19.
CNU XC Opener - 10K Relay
Roslyn Park
Team Standings
1. W&M 7
2. VCU 18
Top Five Teams
1. Ryan Thompson/Faris Sakallah (W&M) 30:13.93
2. Riley Covert/Ryan McGorty (UNAT) 30:20.10
3. Andrew Cacciatore/Evan Woods (UNAT) 30:20.90
4. Jack Joyce/Ryan Onders (UNAT) 30:28.96
5. AJ Tucker/Chris Hoyle (W&M) 30:36.64
Other W&M Teams
7. Asher Smith-Rose/Ryan Gousse 30:45.64
8. Paul Gates/Nathaniel Hermsmeier 30:50.39
9. Kurtis Steck/Mac Haight 31:39.60
