TROY, Ala. – The Georgia State men's cross country team finished third at the Coach “O” Invitational, hosted by Troy State University, despite leaving their top runners in Atlanta. On the women's side, freshman Janel Blancett gave an outstanding effort to take fourth place.

The men's team finished 24 points behind first place Birmingham Southern, who finished two points ahead of second-place Troy. The Panthers were led by two top-ten finishes on the 5k course from freshman Chris Brannon and sophomore transfer Zaven O'Bryant, who took fifth and seventh place respectively.

The men's team traveled to Alabama without their top-four runners, who were resting for next weekend's Colonial Athletic Association Championship meet after competing in last weekend's Chile Pepper Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

The Georgia State women competed only three runners on the 3200-meter course in preparation for next weekend's CAA meet, and all three Panthers finished in the top-35 positions. In addition to Blancett's fourth-place finish, sophomore Megan Stewart took the 19th spot and freshman Kayla Smith finished 31st.


Georgia State Men Top Seven
Place, Name, Class, Institute, Time
5, Brannon, Chris, FR, Georgia State, 16:15.34
7, O'Bryant, Zaven, SO, Georgia State, 16:18.55
21, Matthews, Kevin, SO, Georgia State, 16:46.66
23, Williams, Jeremy, SR, Georgia State, 16:51.44
26, Syed, Rabah, SO, Georgia State, 17:02.93
29, Walker, Nelson, SO, Georgia State, 17:26.16
33, Wood, Tim, JR, Georgia State, 17:52.70

Georgia State Women
Place, Name, Class, Institute, Time
4, Blancett, Janel, FR, Georgia State, 12:44.11
19, Stewart, Megan, SO, Georgia State, 13:27.95
31, Smith, Kayla, FR, Georgia State, 14:00.01