Mountaineers Compete at Swags Louisville Classic

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Berea College men's cross country team competed at the 25th Annual Swags Louisville Cross Country Classic at E.P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park, taking on a competitive field in the men's 8K Blue Race.

The Mountaineers finished 23rd overall with 578 points, led by sophomore Desire Itwitaho. Itwitaho finished 28th overall with a time of 27:11.7, averaging 5:28.2 per mile.

Junior Taiki Ogawa followed with a 41st-place finish in 27:22.1, averaging 5:30.3 per mile. Andrew Bratcher was the third Mountaineer across the finish line, completing the course in 30:20.3.

Austin Gatewood and Shane Mitchell-Cox finished nearly side-by-side to round out Berea's scoring five. Gatewood recorded a time of 32:38.8, while Mitchell-Cox finished in 32:40.3.

Ian Taylor finished in 35:27.1, while Noah Howard rounded out the Berea lineup with a time of 36:20.4.
 

Berea Individual Results

• Desire Itwitaho — 28th | 27:11.7
• Taiki Ogawa — 41st | 27:22.1
• Andrew Bratcher — 186th | 30:20.3
• Austin Gatewood — 240th | 32:38.8
• Shane Mitchell-Cox — 241st | 32:40.3
• Ian Taylor — 267th | 35:27.1
• Noah Howard — 270th | 36:20.4

The Mountaineers will return to competition on Friday, Oct. 16, when they travel to Knoxville, Tennessee, for the Maryville Invitational.