WINGATE, N.C. – The Lincoln Memorial University men's cross country team concluded its 2017 season Saturday with a tenth-place finish at the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional meet on Saturday on the campus of Wingate University. The 10k meet consisted of 23 teams and 153 individual runners representing either the South Atlantic Conference, Conference Carolinas or Peach Belt Conference.
 
The Railsplitters finished with 297 points and an average time of 34:38.60. The team nabbed its second straight top ten finish at the regional meet for the first time in program history after finishing eighth a year ago.
 
Mount Olive, the top-ranked team in the region and Conference Carolinas champion, placed all five runners in the top 15 to win its third straight regional championship with 50 points. SAC champion Queens finished second and Peach Belt champion Augusta third to secure bids to the National Championship meet, which is being hosted in Evansville, Indiana on November 18.
 
Jorge Hernandez couldn't quite replicate last year's 23^rd-place finish, the highest in program history, but still paced the team in 27^th with a time of 33:20.8. Jacob King also notched a top-50 finish with a 41^st-place 33:56.8. Jacob Gatewood finished just outside the top 50 in 53^rd at 34:27.3.
 
"Though we just missed an All-Region performance, the strength of the region is as strong as ever," LMU head men's cross country coach Jeremy Donahue said. "Jorge and Jacob King had great finishes to lead us."
 
Ayden Farmer also finished in the top half of the race with a 71^st-place 35:10.0. Garrett Napier rounded out LMU's placers with a 105^th-place 36:18.8.
 
"Being not at full strength and duplicating a top-ten finish shows the depth we are developing," Donahue said.
 
Harrison Calhoun and Daniel Johnson also competed and finished in 116^th and 131^st, respectively.
 
UNC Pembroke's Silus Kipkoech won the race at 31:23.6. Nick Kipkemei of Queens finished just .9 seconds behind in second. Mount Olive's Adam Craig was third at 31:33.5.
 
Men's 10k results

10. Lincoln Memorial - 297 points
27. Jorge Hernandez - 33:20.8
41. Jacob King - 33:56.8
53. Jacob Gatewood - 34:27.3
71. Ayden Farmer - 35:10.0
105. Garrett Napier- 36:18.8
116. Harrison Calhoun - 37:06.4
131. Daniel Johnson - 38:51.8