Cross country opens 2021 season at North Alabama Invitational

FLORENCE, Ala. (Sept. 10, 2021) – The Point University men's and women's cross country teams opened the 2021 season by competing in the North Alabama Invitational Friday morning in Florence, Alabama.

The Skyhawks were represented on the men's side by Micah Burdette and Austin Hemphill and on the women's side by Hayley Akbari.

Burdette finished the men's 8k in 68th out of a field of 105 with a time of 28:15. Hemphill finished in 103rd at 36:37.1, and on the women's side, Akbari finished the women's 5k in 85th out of a field of 106, with a time of 25:00.

The Skyhawks competed in a field diverse with NCAA Division I and II teams, Junior College, and NAIA teams.

"I am happy with the effort I saw from everyone," Head Coach Caleb Albrecht said. "It was a great course, and I'm excited to see the comparison when we come back to this same course for our last meet of the season. It's a good base to see where we're at in our fitness and see what we need to focus on with training moving forward."

Up next, Point will sprint back into action on Thursday, Sept. 23, at the Topper Trails Classic, hosted by Blue Mountain College in Blue Mountain, Mississippi.