HAMPTON, Ga. – Georgia Southwestern State University freshman
Tate Ragsdale turned in the second-fastest 8K performance in program history Saturday, leading the Hurricanes to a third-place finish at the CAU Panther Invitational at Nash Farm Battlefield.
Ragsdale completed the course in 28:10.5 to finish eighth overall in the 25-runner field. His performance marked his fastest 8K of the season and gave him his first top-10 finish of the fall. The freshman has led the Hurricanes in all four meets this season.
The time was a significant improvement for Ragsdale, who shaved 3 minutes, 22.8 seconds off his previous season best of 31:33.3, set at the Peach Belt Conference Preview on Sept. 26.
Sophomore
Joseph Esco followed in 13th place with a time of 32:09.6, while senior
Trey Reid finished 16th in 33:03.9. Sophomore
Michael Korfhage placed 18th in 34:34.9.
CJ Johnson rounded out GSW's scoring five in 23rd with a time of 38:55.7, while junior
Gerona Williams finished 25th in 47:37.4.
All six Hurricanes recorded season-best 8K times, highlighted by Ragsdale's historic performance.
Georgia Southwestern totaled 78 points to finish third in the four-team field, posting a combined time of 2:46:54 and an average of 33:22 among its five scoring runners.
Morehouse captured the team championship with 21 points, followed by Clayton State with 37. Clark Atlanta finished fourth with 85 points.
Morehouse's Abel Karia topped the 25-runner field with a time of 26:06.1, leading a 1-2 finish for the Maroon Tigers.
Men's 8K Team Results
| Place |
Team |
Total Time |
Avg. Time |
Score |
| 1 |
Morehouse |
2:17:20 |
27:28 |
21 |
| 2 |
Clayton State |
2:26:47 |
29:09 |
37 |
| 3 |
Georgia Southwestern |
2:46:54 |
33:22 |
78 |
| 4 |
Clark Atlanta |
2:50:21 |
34:04 |
85 |
GSW Men's Finishers
* Season-best 8K time
