A Smooth Start at the Belmont Opener

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Belmont University men's cross country team got off to a smooth start at the Belmont Opener Friday morning at Percy Warner Park.   

To open the 2023 season the Bruins placed two of the top five runners and claimed second overall in a field of eleven teams. 

Drew Brill was Belmont's top finisher as he secured third place in his first collegiate race with a time of 15:11.8. Joel Wolf quickly followed with a time of 15:14.3. 

Zach Brill finished 15th overall with a time of 15:34.5 with Reuben Macdonald, who was running unattached, following in 15:41.9. Gavin Morrow was another Bruin who finished inside the top 30. 

Noah Epker and Nathan Katic finished 36th and 38th, respectively. Brayden Kennedy and Garrett Hesselgesser grabbed the 41st and 46th spots. Seven Bruins finished around the 16:20 mark. Kaden Keller and redshirt freshman Kevin Loftus rounded out a successful day on the course for Belmont in 16:39.1 and 16:44.5, respectively.

Team Results (Points)
1. Bellarmine (22)
2. Belmont (65)
3. Vanderbilt (93)  
4. Southern Illinois (97)  
5. Murray State (139) 
6. West Georgia (195)
7. Lipscomb (213)  
8. Western Kentucky (215) 
9. Trevecca (241)  
10. Presbyterian (286)  
11. Tennessee State (302)


Belmont Individual Finishes (Time) 
3. Drew Brill (15:11.8)  
4. Joel Wolf (15:14.3)  
15. Zach Brill (15:34.5)  
17. Reuben Macdonald (15:41.9)  
26. Gavin Morrow (15:55.8)  
36. Noah Epker (16:08.4)  
38. Nathan Katic (16:09.1)  
41. Brayden Kennedy (16:10.1)  
46. Garrett Hesselgesser (16:16.7)  
50. Kevin Vanderkolk (16:20)  
51. Jack Zettl (16:20)  
52. Nick Mota (16:20.1)  
53. Zac Shaffer (16:20.6)  
54. Carter Cheeseman (16:21)  
55. Jacob Ricks (16:21.1)  
56. Ethan Hammer (16:21.2)  
63. Kaden Keller (16:39.1)
68. Kevin Loftus (16.44.5)

Up Next
The Bruins will have two weeks of training before select runners head to Terre Haute, Indiana for the John McNichols Invitational, while others stay local at the Michael Pretorius Invitational hosted by Trevecca on Saturday, September 16th. 

Follow Belmont men's cross country on social media - @BelmontXCTF on Twitter, @belmontmxc on Instagram and @BUXCTF on Facebook - for complete coverage of the Bruins. Stay up to date with all of Belmont's athletic programs via the official app of the Belmont Bruins, available both in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.  

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