OXFORD, Ala. – In what is shaping up to be a career year, junior Evan Ortiz (McDonough, Ga.) reset his 7k best by more than a minute and led Clayton State men's cross country as they delivered an 11-of-20 finish at the 13^th Annual JSU Foothills Invitational on Saturday, September 29.
 
Ortiz finished 30-of-176 with a mark of 23:51.90, out pacing his previous best of 25:14.25 set at the UWG Wolves XC Season Opener (8/31). He has now led the Lakers in all three meets this season.
 
Senior Ryan Polk (Marietta, Ga.) followed in 67^th with a time of 25:03.90 and sophomore Na'im Allen (McDonough, Ga.) notched an 81^st place finish at 25:33.10.
 
Sophomore Zach Czerniak (Suwanee, Ga.) was the next highest finisher in 95^th (26:02.00) with redshirt-junior Jason Dang (Gainesville, Ga.) coming in at 117^th (28:11.90). Junior Anuj Patel (Cochran, Ga.) rounded things out with a time of 30:40.40 for a 136^th place finish.
 
As a team Clayton State had 304 points to finish 11-of-19 overall. Among the non-Division I programs, they were eighth. Samford won on the Division I side with a total of 24 points.
 
After competing on back-to-back weekends, Clayton State will be off until Friday, October 12. When they return it will be in Charlotte, North Carolina for the Royals XC Challenge. That 8k race is slated for a 4:45 p.m. start.
 
Clayton State Finishers at 13^th Annual JSU Foothills Invitational
Evan Ortiz – 30-of-176 (23:51.90)
Ryan Polk – 67-of-176 (25:03.90)
Na'im Allen – 81-of-176 (25:33.10)
Zach Czerniak – 95-of-176 (26:02.00)
Jason Dang – 117-of-176 (28:11.90)
Anuj Patel – 136-of-176 (30:40.40)