Virginia Union University's men's cross-country team placed third in the Panthers' home opener, The VUU Invitational, held on Friday, September 23, at Bryant Park in Richmond, Va.

Hampton University won the event with 29 team points while Virginia State University was second with 35 points.  VUU was third with 70 points and Washington Adventist University was fourth with 78 points.

Hakeem Fields was VUU's top finisher, coming in 12th with a time of 32:57 over the 8-kilometer course.  VUU's Deion Dickens was 13th with a time of 33:34 and Andrew Njoku was 14th with a time of 33:35.

Virginia Union's Rodney Hargrove was 15th with a time of 34 minutes flat, and Wesley Arthur was 16th with a time of 34:06.

VUU now travels to Cary, N.C., to compete in the HBCU Classic on Saturday, October 1.

HAMPTON U      29
VIRGINIA STATE 35
VIRGINIA UNION 70
WASHINGTON ADVENTIST 78

1 Chris Henry VSU 28:36
2 Xavier Fraction HU 29:45
3 Jev'on Hutchinson HU 30:05
4 Eric Makauski WAU 30:06
5 Jaleel Rogers HU 30:12
6 Quran Robinson VSU 30:38
7 Andres McIntyre VSU 30:44
8 Prince Owusa-MensanVSU 30:56
9 Larry Ramirez HU 31:00
10 Edose Ibadin HU 32:17
11 Evan Williams HU 32:22
- Emmanuel Nelfrard UNA 32:26
12 Hakeem Fields VUU 32:57
- Franck Charles UNA 33:25
13 Deion Dickens VUU 33:34
14 Andrew Njoku VUU 33:35
15 Rodney Hargrove VUU 34:00
16 Wesley Arthur VUU 34:06
17 Michael Patterson WAU 34:37
18 Eric Wasuga WAU 36:07
19 Lamar Daniels WAU 36:16
20 Kyle Kristenson WAU 36:50
- Marcus Dean VUU 37:24
21 Matt Manzano WAU 42:53
- Carl Wilkerson WAU 42:54
- Tremayne Banks VUU 45:14