September 4, 2004

BLACKSBURG, Va. -- Longwood University totaled 221 points to finish ninth among nine teams at the Festival in the Fields men’s cross country meet hosted by Virginia Tech Saturday in Blacksburg.  The host Hokies won the event with their 37-point total.  The Lancers will compete again September 18 at the University of Virginia’s Invitational.

At Virginia Tech, Longwood was led by freshman D.J. Palmer/Chantilly (Chantilly) who finished 44th overall among 85 runners with his time of 21:16, a school-record) in the 6K (3.75 mile) race won in 18:55.  Palmer was followed by classmate Phillip Thomas/Sperryville (Rappahannock) (21:29, 50th), sophomore Chris Gibbs/Richmond (Lloyd C. Bird) (22:14, 64th), freshman Mark Anderson/Chesapeake (Western Branch) (22:24, 66th), along with sophomore Keith Smith/Powhatan (Powhatan) (22:28, 67th).  Thomas’ time was also better than the previous school mark, while Gibbs tied the old record time.

Others running for the Lancers included freshmen Logan Wease/Chesapeake (Great Bridge) (24:15, 74th) and Kyle Knott/Virginia Beach (Princess Anne) (25:09, 78th), as well as sophomores Ryan Foster/Richmond (Douglas Freeman) (26:43, 81st) and Clinton Myers/York, Pa. (York) (28:03, 83rd).

Virginia Tech/Festival in the Fields - 6K
Team Results (9 teams)

1. Virginia Tech, 37
2. Liberty, 55
3. Wayne State, 72
4. Virginia Tech ‘B’, 126
5. Concord, 134
6. Milligan, 143
7. East Tennessee State, 154
8. Roanoke, 200
9. Longwood University, 221

Longwood Individual Results (18:55, 1)

D.J. Palmer, 21:16, 44
Phillip Thomas, 21:29, 50
Chris Gibbs, 22:14, 64
Mark Anderson, 22:24, 66
Keith Smith, 22:28, 67
Logan Wease, 24:15, 74
Kyle Knott, 25:09, 78
Ryan Foster, 26:43, 81
Clinton Myers, 28:03, 83