On this day 37 years ago, Mark Whitney ’78, Don Lockerbie ’75, and the University of North Carolina cross country team earned surprise wins over Virginia and NC State in an ACC tri-meet.

The Tar Heels dispatched the Cavaliers, 20-35, and the Wolfpack, 25-34, thanks in part to Whitney’s 4th overall finish in 24:41. Lockerbie, UNC’s head coach, called it “quite a stellar performance this early in the season.” He went on to tell The Daily Tar Heel, “Virginia and State were surprised that we won. We were the same bunch that finished 5th in the ACC last year.”

Whitney, the team captain that year, and Lockerbie went on to lead to team to a 3-0-1 record, a #13 national ranking, and a 2nd place finish in the ACC.

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