FARMVILLE, Va. – Longwood men's cross country finished eighth at the Big South Championship on the Lancer cross country course on Saturday morning in the 10-team field.
 
PLACEMENT (Times)
 
8. Longwood: 224
 
37. Ethan Pettyjohn: 26:46.6
47. Benjamin Goulet: 27:14.1
57. Saad Khan: 27:52.1
58. Sam Sager: 27:57.7
65. Misha Wiley: 28:37.2
67. Alec Daniel: 28:58.5
69. Andrew Schaeffer: 29:16.0
72. Javier Roldan: 29:44.9
73. Bryce Christian: 29:51.7
83. Connor Williams: 33:29.1
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
Among a fast field on a challenging course, the Lancers battled and set a variety of course bests while also finishing a spot higher than a season ago at the Big South Championship. For the men, it was their best average time as a team (27:41) since they entered the Big South.
 
Ethan Pettyjohn clocked the top time for the Lancers and smashed his best time on his team's home course with a 26:46.6. It was the sophomore's fastest time on the Lancer course by more than a full minute, and he broke 27 minutes for the second time this season.
 
Benjamin Goulet set his own course best with a 27:14.1, marking the fifth straight meet that he has set either his course best or a straight personal best. The sophomore also beat his previous best time on the Lancer course by more than a full minute.
 
Saad Khan checked in with a 27:52.1, his fastest time on the Lancer home course. The sophomore also has had a strong run for the Lancers over his past four races, with all four marking his best times as a Lancers leading into championship weekend.
 
Sam Sager was seconds behind Khan at 27:57.1, and he had his best race time on the Lancer course by 80 seconds. He also came in having set back-to-back personal bests.
 
Misha Wiley rounded out the scoring group for Longwood his fastest time as a Lancer. His personal best of 28:37.2 broke his previous best, set two weeks ago, by 24 seconds. The sophomore also ran his best time on the course by a full minute and 12 seconds.
 
Alec Daniel (28:58.5), Andrew Schaeffer (29:16.0), Javier Roldan (29:44.9), Bryce Christian (29:51.7) and Connor Williams (33:29.1) rounded out the squad. For both Roldan and Christian, their times were personal bests. Daniel also set his course personal best.
 
WHAT THEY SAID:
 
"I think we all ran well as a team," said team leader and senior Sam Sager. "We set high goals and wanted to run together because we've had a really good season working together. We were a little disappointed with eighth place because we had a high goal of sixth place. But I think everyone ran well, and it's good."
 
"We're not losing any guys," Sager added about how the future is bright. "We've got a good thing to work off of next year. It feels really good. The team has come a long way since my freshman year."
 
"We've got a lot of guys around that can push us all to be better," Sager added. "We've got a good culture. Any day, you never know who could beat you. You are not all alone in a race. When the pack thins out in a race, you can always look up and know you've got a teammate right there."
 
"It was great running on our home course," Sager said. "I had to miss the first home meet [he was sick], but not having to ride on a bus for three hours, getting to wake up in your own bed, cooking some breakfast and coming to the course, it was great. Plus, all the fans came out, and it was really cool."
 
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
 
The future remains bright for a squad that underclassmen as four of its top five runners.
 
For Pettyjohn, it was his fourth race as Longwood's fastest runner this season.
 
It marked the fifth time that Goulet finished inside Longwood's top five.
 
For Wiley, it was his first time inside Longwood's top five.
 
UP NEXT:
 
The Lancers are headed to the NCAA Southeast Regional in Louisville, Kentucky on Friday, Nov. 11.