CHARLOTTE, N.C. | The Georgia College & State University men's cross country team finished strong at the Queen City Invitational hosted by Queens University of Charlotte Friday (Sept. 11) evening at McAlpine Creek Park.

The Bobcats, who are ninth in the preseason U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Southeast Region poll, finished in ninth place out 25 teams with 273 points. GCSU came in fourth out of the NCAA Division II institutions competing at the meet.

Shipley Smith was the top Bobcat in the field with a time of 26.06.0 on the 8K course. Zach Hilyer finished in 62nd place with a time of 26.55.3, while Karl Ritzler (68th, 27.05.9), Nolan Lane (78th, 27.19.4) and Joseph Jarvis (85th, 27.30.0) rounded out the top five.

Daniel Bell came in 100th place with a time of 27.52.5 and was followed by Evan Armstrong (122nd. 28.31.3), Gavin Howland (124th, 28.32.3), Daniel Laird (127th, 28.37.9) and Peyton Harley (131st, 28.41.3) were the next five finishers for the Bobcats. Jaycob Wagner (135th, 28.49.2), Owen Davies (137th, 28.51.3), Reed Glaser (142nd, 29.05.2), Michael Perry (153rd, 29.22.3), Jackson Underwood (162nd, 29.48.6), Levi Dailey (164th, 29.58.2) and Antonio Correa (191st, 31.02.3) rounded out the GCSU contingent.

GCSU returns to action Sept. 25 when they compete at the Peach Belt Conference Preview hosted by Middle Georgia State University in Macon, Georgia, at 9 a.m.

About GCSU Athletics 
Owning the top Academic Success Rate among all public colleges and universities in Division II for five consecutive academic years, the Georgia College Department of Athletics sponsors 13 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. GCSU Athletics has won six consecutive Presidents' Awards for Academic Excellence, and are two-time winners of the PBC Commissioner's Cup and six-time winners of the PBC Institution of the Year Sportsmanship Award. As a Division II program, Bobcat Athletics prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the teams' continued appearances in postseason competition as well as high-level academic success and community-service involvement. Bobcat Athletics embodies the mantra of "Graduating Champions for Life." Sign up at @GCSUBobcats on all social media outlets for up-to-the-minute reports or subscribe to the GSCU Athletics e-newsletter to receive the latest news, schedule updates and to interact with GCSU Athletics.