Charlotte, N.C.----The Wingate University men's cross country team finished fifth in the non-NCAA Division I section of the Charlotte 49er Invitational at McAlpine Creek Park Friday. Tennessee Wesleyan (36 points), Mars Hill (43), UNC Pembroke (75), SCAD Savannah (93) and Wingate (171) complete the top five on the team leader board. Ten non-Division I teams and four Division I squads compiled team scores in this year's event (men's results, women's results).

"We looked improved from (our) last race; we're getting closer to running a complete race," Wingate head cross country coach Joe Soehnlen says. "…We still have to work on getting out better and establishing position early in the race."

Wingate junior Mike Hering (Englewood, Fla.) led the Bulldogs, compiling an 8K time of 26:56.6. Hering finished 24th in the 122-man (non-Division I) field. Sophomore Nepolian Patel (Rocky Mount, N.C.) was 30th, as he traversed the 8K course in 27:13.4. Redshirt freshman Anthony Gaudin (Orleans, France) was next, claiming 31st place with a time of 27:19.5.
 
Bulldog sophomore Alex Craig (Lenoir, N.C.) was 37th, posting an 8K time of 27:46.2. Classmate Jacob Troutman (Aberdeen, N.C.) completed Wingate's team score, running a 28:31.5 to finish 49th overall. Senior Jordan Phillips (Cornelius, N.C.) and sophomore Dustin Hickernell (Fleetwood, N.C.) were 56th (28:56.3) and 58th (29:01.1), respectively.
 
Other Wingate runners to complete the Charlotte 49er Invitational course include freshman Alex Tidwell (Monroe, N.C.), sophomore Austin Greeson (Burlington, N.C.), sophomore Kendon Corbett (Waxhaw, N.C.), senior Scott Pullen (Roswell, Ga.) and freshman Juan Torre (Hope Mills, N.C.). Tidwell's time was 29:18.1, followed by Greeson (29:29.4), Corbett (30:11.9), Pullen (30:45.0) and Torre (31:29.9).
 
The Wingate men's cross country team will compete in the Hagan Stone Cross Country Classic Saturday, Oct. 4 in Greensboro, N.C.