The UNC men’s cross country team won its second event in as many tries to start the season this weekend, taking first at the Adidas XC Challenge in Cary, N.C. Carolina topped a field that included NC State, No. 23 Duke and No. 15 Wake Forest.

“This is another really good step forward for our guys,” said men’s cross country coach Chris Miltenberg. “We haven’t beaten NC State in any way in more years than I can find looking back, so it’s a big step forward. It’s only September, but we’re getting better every single week.”

Freshman Parker Wolfe, racing in his first collegiate event after sitting out the Charlotte Opener race earlier in the month, placed first with a time of 17:48.0. He was one of five Tar Heels to finish in the top nine spots. As a high schooler, Wolfe was the 2020-21 Gatorade National Player of the Year in boys’ cross country.

Carolina’s average time of 18:00.4 was more than 10 seconds ahead of the second-place Wolfpack.

“We had five guys really close together,” said Miltenberg. “If we can continue to close that gap between fifth and sixth and seventh, we can be really good. It’s exciting progress.”

The win comes after the Tar Heel men appeared in the Top 30 of national polls for the first time since 2015, checking in at No. 29.

The No. 13 UNC women’s team did not compete, and will next participate in the Battle in Beantown in Boston on September 24. The men’s team next competes in the Paul Short Run in Pennsylvania on October 1.

 

Featured image via NC State Athletics

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