NASHVILLE, Tenn. --- The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's cross country team opened the 2016 season with a third place finish Saturday morning in the Belmont Opener at Percy Warner Park in Nashville.
 
Senior Paul Stuart (Brentwood, Tenn.) led the Mocs with a third place finish in a time of 15:28.0 in the 5-kilometer race. Junior transfer Brenan Huber (Manchester, Tenn.) was the second UTC runner across the line, placing fifth with a time of 15:37.4.
 
"Paul led for about two miles," Chattanooga assistant coach Amanda Cotter said. "He attacked the hill and was trying for a top five finish. Brenan was right where we thought he'd be. He's been neck-and-neck with Paul in practice."
 
Freshman Nathan Watson (Hendersonville, Tenn.), in his debut for the Mocs, was 19^th in the scoring order in a time of 15:56.8.
 
"Nathan was excited with his time," Cotter said. "It's his first race and he got a Top 20 finish. The sophomores all ran well and are getting their feet back."
 
Sophomore John Payne (Portland, Tenn.) finished in the Top 25, placing 24^th with a time of 16:00.1 and Mark Britt (Lebanon, Tenn.) was 33^rd in the scoring at 16:20.7 followed by Richard Guiry (Nashville, Tenn.) at 35^th posting a time of 16:27.3.
 
Senior Trevor Janssen (Jordan Station, Ontario) returned to the lineup this season and was the fifth scoring runner for UTC, placing 32^nd with a time of 16:19.7 over the 5K distance.
 
The Mocs will return home to host the 25^th annual PowerAde Invitational at the Moccasin Bend Race course. The women's 2-mile race is set to begin at 5:45 p.m. followed by the men's 5K.
 

TEAM SCORES
1	Belmont	26
2	Lipscomb	47
3	Chattanooga	83
4	Vanderbilt	99
5	Murray State	130
6	Austin Peay	176
7	Tennessee State	209

 

UTC INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
3	Paul Stuart	15:28.0
5	Brennan Huber	15:37.4
19	Nathan Watson	15:56.8
24	John Payne	16:00.1
32	Trevor Janssen	16:19.7
33	Mark Britt	16:20.2
35	Richard Guiry	16:27.3