JONESBORO, Ga. – Competing at home for the first time since 2001, Clayton State men's cross country delivered three Top-10 finishes and finished 2-of-4 as they hosted the Clayton State Cross Country Challenge on Friday, September 27. As a team they finished with 49 points.
 
That performance was headlined by freshman Javier Castillo (Forest Park, Ga.) who placed 7-of-29 with a time of 28:57.33 and was followed directly by junior Zach Czerniak (Suwanee, Ga.) in eighth (29:19.39).
 
Local product junior Andre' Thompson, Jr. (Stockbridge, Ga.) rounded out the Top-10 performances as he came in in 10^th with a mark of 29:48 76 and redshirt-sophomore Courtland White (Rex, Ga.) was on his heels in 11^th (29:51.01). Junior Na'im Allen (McDonough, Ga.) wrapped up the Lakers top performers on the evening as he finished 14^th at 30:14.27.
 
The meet was the first the program had hosted since the 2001 Peach Belt Conference Championship on October 20 and the CCSU Invitational on September 22 of that year. Previously they had hosted the Clayton State Harrier Meet on October 13, 1999 and October 14, 1998.
 
Columbus State claimed this year's outing, finishing with the top six runners and 15 points.
 
The Lakers will be in action for a fourth straight weekend as they travel to Jacksonville, Alabama for the 14^th Annual Foothills Invitational. That 8k race is set for 9 a.m. EST and will be hosted by Division I Jacksonville State.
 
Clayton State Finishers at 2019 Clayton State Cross Country Challenge
Javier Castillo – 7-of-29, 28:57.33
Zach Czerniak – 8-of-29, 29:19.39
Andre' Thompson, Jr. – 10-of-29, 29:48.76
Courtland White – 11-of-29, 29:51.01
Na'im Allen – 14-of-29, 30:14.27
Darryl Jefferson – 22-of-29, 33:26.37
James Kilgore – 24-of-29, 34:21.30
Gyasi Cockrell – 29-of-29, DNF