Baylor School's Brandon Lord finished fourth in the junior men's division of the 25th World Mountain Running Championship held Sunday in Italy.
His time of 39:51 for the 8 kilometer race was by far the best of the U.S. team. The next American finisher was at 39th.
It was one of the highest finishes ever for a U.S. junior men's runner in the race. It was the 25th running of the mountain race.
The junior men's division (20 and under) was won by an Italian at 38:26. Finishing second and third were runners from Turkey.
Turkey had the top team and Italy was second. The U.S. was eighth.
Dr. Ted Lord, Brandon's father, said, "He was ecstatic since this was a world event. He said there were helicopters overhead and it was on European TV. He was interviewed by USA Running magazine."
Dr. Lord said Brandon was chosen for the U.S. team after he was recommended by the University of Richmond running coach.
Dr. Lord noted that his family moved here from Canada about a dozen years ago, but just became U.S. citizens last year.