CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.— Graduate student Christopher Alfond (Ashby, Mass.), junior Drew Everett (Amesbury, Mass.) and senior Kyle Cloutier (Lancaster, Mass.) represented the UMass Lowell men's track and field program Friday night at the 2021 Virginia Challenge, competing in the men's 10,000-meter invitational race.

Alfond paced the trio of River Hawks in the long-distance event, placing seventh overall with a personal-best time of 29:06.17. Alfond's new fastest time was nearly a 35-second improvement off his previous best, set earlier this season at the Raleigh Relays.
 
"Chris ran a fantastic race. He ran 80% of a really good 10,000-meter in the past, but today, he ran 100% of the race," said Head Coach Gary Gardner. "He certainly earned the NCAA qualifier we knew he was capable of."
 
Everett and Cloutier rounded out the UMass Lowell squad, finishing in quick succession to earn 16th and 17th, respectively. Everett crossed the finish line in 29:56.20 in his first collegiate attempt at the long-distance race, while Cloutier's 29:56.42 mark earned him a new career best.
 
"Drew ran an excellent 10,000-meter debut. It was a great start to a race we think may be his best in the long term," remarked Gardner. "Kyle had a bit of a bumpy start to the race, but he still gutted it through to run a pretty good time. Overall, well worth the trip to Virginia."
 
The River Hawks return to the Bay State on Saturday, April 17 to host the George Davis Invitational at Cushing Field Complex. Start time is set for 9 a.m.