Austin Peay State University Sports Information
Clarksville, TN – Senior Wesley Gray’s individual victory led Austin Peay State University (APSU) men’s cross country team to victory at the annual home meet as the Governors held off Evansville by one point (36-37).
Four Governors finished in the top 10 and seven out of eight Govs ended the race with a top-20 finish.
Gray finished first for the Govs among individuals with the time of 19:16.99—he’s the first Gov since Mathew Biwott (Evansville, 2017) to post an individual victory.
Sophomore Thomas Porter was the next Governor to cross the line as he timed 19:50.32 (fifth). Hezron Kiptoo barely missed the 20-minute barrier with his best time this season of 20:00.58 (seventh).
Junior Tyler Smith crossed the finish line less than eight seconds behind Hezron, placing ninth with a time of 20:08.36. Nash Young tallied a top-15 finish as he timed out at 20:35.32 (14th). Sophomore Daniel Davis was not far behind Young; he finished 12 seconds later and placed 17th with a time of 20:47.26.
Andrew Abel finished 20th for the Govs, just missing the 21-minute barrier with a time of 21:09.43. Freshman Joseph Redman rounded out the day for Austin Peay State University with a 21:29.02 mark to cap off the victory.
Head coach Doug Molnar was proud of his team’s effort and execution as they secured the narrow victory. He also praised the veterans who led the way for the Govs.
“You always like to run well at home and we did,” said Molnar. “Thomas Porter passed up two or three guys in the last thousand meters and Nash Young holding off a late charge by a couple of guys and it made a big difference for us.”
The Governors will head to Louisville, Kentucky as the Austin Peay State University Govs will be participants in the Louisville Invitational next Saturday.
