WILMINGTON, Del. - - Kicking off the 2013 racing schedule, the Wilmington University cross county teams hosted the 13th Annual WUXC Invite at Carousel Park and the men dominated the field to score a perfect 15 points, while the women finished fifth overall on Saturday morning.

On the cool, crisp morning, the WUXC Invite's first gun shot fired off the start of the cross country schedule, as the women were off and running first in the 5K. The men followed in the annual 8K race.

The women were led by graduate student Tijen Ozcan who placed ninth overall in a time of 22:01.53 in her first race as a Wildcat. Senior captain SaraBeth Oppermann was the second Wildcat to cross the line, coming in at 22:37.02 and in 17th place overall. Newcomer Rachel Jones finished in 24th overall in her first race as a Wildcat, finishing in 23:21.77.

Sophomore Morgan Ferrick was the fourth Wildcat to finish, coming in 33rd overall with a time of 24:12.53. Rounding out the Wilmington scoring was graduate student Penelope Fantis in 38th place, finishing her first cross country race in 25:00.54. Junior Chelsie Maher closed the door on Wilmington's runners with a 47th place finish in 27:53.55 running in her first cross country event as well.

Nyack College won the 5K race with a total score of 25 points, as sophomore Rebecca Wakeley took home medalist honors in a time of 19:44.22. Georgian Court placed second with 59 points while USciences finished third as a team with 83 points. Lincoln (Pa.) finished fourth with 102 points followed by Wilmington's 121 points to round out the top five.

On the men's side, it was a dominating performance by the Wildcats, mainly consisting of Wilmington newcomers. Junior transfer Tyler Muse stole the show in his first race as a Wildcat, winning the meet in a time of 28:37.77. Fellow transfer Nathan Parmenter finished right behind Muse in 28:40.68 for a second place showing. Junior Richie Mitten pulled away from a pack of three Wildcats with about 300 meters remaining to finish in third place in a time of 28:43.47.

Freshman Ken Fontal continued the trend of Wildcat finishers with a fourth place showing in his first collegiate race, crossing the line in 28:54.04. Sophomore Jesus Amezquita rounded out the Wilmington scoring and finished the sweep with a fifth place showing in 28:55.55.

Graduate student Marshall Hawkins made it six Wildcats in the Top 10 with an eighth place finish, crossing the line in his first meet as a Wildcat in 29:44.27. Junior Mike Wright placed 20th overall with a time of 31:57.53, followed by sophomore Quinn Marvel in 26th in 33:01.33. Junior Brandon Parker was 32nd in 34:31.37, while freshman Stephen Taylor rounded out the Wildcat runners in 46th in a time of 43:44.15.

The men's top five scorers for Wilmington gave the team a perfect 15 points, while Nyack claimed second place with 65 points. Ocean County College took third place with 80 points while Bloomfield finished fourth with 107 points. USciences rounded out the top five teams with 134 points.

The Wildcats remain in the First State for their next meet, as they travel to Newark to take part in the UD Invite #1 at White Clay Creek. The meet will begin with the women starting at 10:30 a.m.

AGATE:

2013 WUXC Invite Team Results

Women:
1 – Nyack, 25 points
2 – Georgian Court, 59
3 – USciences, 83
4 – Lincoln (Pa.), 102
5 – Wilmington, 121
6 – Ocean County College, 141
7 – Holy Family, 173
8 – Coppin State, 189

Men:
1 – Wilmington, 15 points
2 – Nyack, 65
3 – Ocean County College, 80
4 – Bloomfield, 107
5 – USciences, 134
6 – Lincoln (Pa.), 135
7 – Holy Family, 152