BLACKSBURG, Va. – Longwood junior Leon Beard Jr. finished as Longwood's top men's runner for a second time this season, returning from a one-meet hiatus to lead the Lancers at the Virginia Tech Alumni Invitational Friday evening at Cave Spring High School.
 
Beard ran the men's 8,000-meter course in 26:46.10 for a team-best finish of 66th out of 112 runners, making him the top men's runner for Longwood in both events he has competed in this season. The Chesterfield, Va., native also finished at the front of the pack for the Lancer men's runners earlier in the month at the Hokie Invitational, also hosted by Virginia Tech.
 
"Leon had a tremendous day today," said 10th-year head coach Catherine Hanson. "He worked his butt off this summer loading cargo in a warehouse all night and sleeping during the day, all while training at 70 miles a week. His hard work paid off today."

Beard crossed the finish line ahead of 66 other runners from around the Mid-American region, including ETSU, VMI, Ohio and Big South foes Liberty and Radford. Rounding out Longwood's top three on the men's side were freshman William Verhappen, who placed 95th at 28:27.00 for his third straight second-place team finish, and senior Marc Mawyer, who placed 100th with a time of 29:10.00.
 
In the women's run, freshman M.E. Lazorchak was Longwood's top finisher, running a 26:53.40 on the 6,000-meter course to place 83rd. Lazorchak's top team finish was a career first for the Leesburg, Va., native, who assumed Longwood's lead spot after senior Gracie Piekarski exited with an injury. Piekarski's absence snapped her streak of nine consecutive top team finishes.

Following Lazorchak in blue and white were Erica Mawyer and Madison Winters, who finished at 27:40.10 and 27:45.80, respectively.
 
The VT Alumni Invitational marks the end of three consecutive race weekends for the Lancers, who will get three weeks to prepare for the Big South Pre-Conference Meet on October 8 in Charleston, S.C.
 
Longwood Men's Individual Results (8K, 112 entries)
66. Leon Beard Jr. (26:46.10)
95. William Verhappen (28:27.00)
106. Alex Dembek (30:04.80)
107. Justin McFaul (30:10.60)
109. Ian Court (30:38.10)
112. John Bapties (34:06.90)
 
Men's Team Results
1. Virginia Tech (2:04:54.50 – 21 points)
2. Liberty (2:06:37.20 – 49 points)
3. Ohio (2:07:26.10 – 63 points)
4. East Tennessee State (2:10:04.40 – 115 points)
5. Akron (2:10:58.30 – 147 points)
6. VMI (2:11:12.80 – 149 points)
7. Lynchburg (2:14:22.50 – 215 points)
8. Radford (2:15:18.80 – 235 points)
9. Longwood (2:24:38.50 – 280 points)

Longwood Women's Individual Results (6K, 93 entries)
83. M.E. Lazorchak (26:53.40)
84. Erica Mawyer (27:40.10)
85. Madison Winters (27:45.80)
87. Miranda Wilson (28:08.80)
 
Women's Team Results
1. Virginia Tech (1:49:15.10 – 20 points)
2. Ohio (1:53:01.50 – 69 points)
3. Liberty (1:53:35.40 – 74 points)
4. Akron (1:56:19.20 – 124 points)
5. East Tennessee State (1:57:04.90 – 127 points)
6. VMI (2:01:50.40 – 185 points)
7. Radford (2:01:55.40 – 194 points)
8. Lynchburg (2:07:27.90 – 207 points)
9. Longwood (2:19:42.10 – 280 points)

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