RALEIGH, N.C.  --- Mississippi College's Christian Balcer and Hunter Kurz headlined the Choctaws' performances on the first day of the North Carolina State University-hosted Raleigh Relays.
 
Balcer posted a personal record in the men's 5,000 meters as he clocked a time of 14:25.87 to finish third in his heat of 22 runners and just .22 seconds off the NCAA provisional mark. The freshman finished behind the University of Virginia's Justin Diehl (14:22.01) and Georgetown University's Price Owens (14:24.67). The Hurley, Miss., product finished 85th overall in a field that included 223 runners spread over 10 heats.
 
Hunter Kurz also posted a PR time in the 5K as he clocked a time of 14:46.77. He finished 18th in his heat and 164th overall.
 
Mississippi College's Gabe Poulin wraps up the Choctaws' activity in the Tarheel State as he competes in the 10,000 meters on Friday, March 25.