NEW MARKET, VA -- Kicking off their season in small home opener on their home course at the New Market Battefield, the James Madison University men and women\'s cross country teams had impressive individual and team showings. In a field of five teams, the JMU men tallied 20 points to win the meet as they were led by race winner CW Moran as the Dukes junior covered the challenging 7.9 kilometer course in a time of 25:30.4. The Lady Dukes (26 pts) were able to take a close victory over 21st nationally ranked Georgetown (30 pts) as the Lady Hoyas sat out some of their top runners. In a field of five teams, the JMU women were led by senior Shannon Saunders who defended her victory in the home invite from a year ago as she finished in a time of 18:46.90 on the 5.1 kilometer course.
Coach Rinker\'s men squad look to be prime for a great fall season of cross country as they showed strong depth on last year\'s CAA conference meet course. Behind race winner Moran, fifth-year senior Allen Carr took runner-up honors to dip under 26 minutes on the tough New Market course with a 25:48.9 clocking. Sophomore James Printz looks to have a solid summer of training as shown with his fourth place finishing time of 25:51.40. Senior Nick Noe (6th, 26:24.90) and junior Bryan Buckland (7th, 26:26.70) had strong runs to round up the Dukes\' scoring five. Tim Young, formerly of James Monroe High School, was JMU\'s top finishing freshmen as he ran sixth for the team with his ninth place finishing time of 26:50.7 in his collegiate debut. The Dukes nearly put nine runners under 27 minutes on the course with junior David Baxter (10th, 26:52.7), junior Teddy Stevenson (11th, 26:56.1), and fifth-year senior Evan Kays (12th, 27:00.20).
Comprising the remaining top five for the JMU women was a veteran group that included top ten finishes from senior Nelly Anderson (3rd, 19:46), sophomore Michelle Beardmore (6th, 20:09.9), senior Tiffany Cross (7th, 20:14.9), and sophomore Jamie Taggart (9th, 20:56.9). Senior Whitney Dunbar ran sixth for the Lady Dukes to finish 10th overall in a time of 21:00.9, while a wave of freshmen with Meghan Kneemiller (12th, 21:09.9) from Great Bridge High School, Aspen Foster (13th, 21:26.4) from Cox High School, and Christy Ward (14th, 21:41.4) from James River High School were the next finishers for the team in their collegiate debuts.