Manchester, CT ? The University of Hartford cross country teams opened the 2008 season at the Trinity College Invitational on Saturday morning. The women's team finished seventh overall out of 14 teams, while the men's team finished ninth out of 11 teams.
The women's team was led by senior Elizabeth Foster who finished third overall. Foster finished the 4,000-meter course in a time of 16:55, less than 30 seconds behind race leader Staphanie McNamara of Tufts. Joining Foster in the top-20 finishers was junior Stefanie Lombardi who finished 14th overall with a time of 17:40.
Also competing in the Trinity College Invitational for the women's team was Ariana Bass who finished in 41st place (18:26), Leanna Godfrey who finished in 61st place (19:00), Kaycee Martinez who finished in 79th place (19:36), Biliana Mihaylova who finished in 113th place (20:27), Latasha Jarrett who finished in 14th place (20:28), and Melanie Wilson who finished in 117th place (20:44).
The men's team was led by sophomore Jonas Hampton, who finished in 26th place overall. Hampton posted a time of 17:25 over the 5,000-meter course, only 20 seconds behind race leader Michael Burnstein of Trinity. Host team Trinity took second place honors in the men's race. Finishing second for the Hawks with a time of 18:11 was sophomore Matthew Le (58th place).
The remaining Hartford men's runners included Wes Melnik who finished in 88th place (19:05), Alexander Welford who finished in 89th place (19:05), Michael Russo who finished in 94th place (19:17), Patrick Murray who finished in 103rd place (19:37), Justin Ferreira who finished in 104th place (19:38), Eric Flaman who finished in 110th place (19:55), Andrew Chalmers who finished in 129th place (20:37), and Frederic Langford who finished in 134th place (21:18).
The men's and women's cross country teams will next compete at the Ted Owens Cross Country Invitational on Saturday, September 20 at Stanley Quarter Park in New Britain, CT at 11:00 a.m.
