Men place second in Sea Gull Opener; Women take fourth

SALISBURY, Md. - The Salisbury University men's and women's cross country teams opened their season on Saturday morning hosting the Sea Gull Opener at Winterplace Park. The men's team collected a second-place finish while the women finished in fourth place.

Senior Chris Barnard was Salisbury's top finisher, taking third place in the men's race with a time of 26:07. His finish helped the Sea Gulls to 55 points, just eight points behind Division II Slippery Rock University.

Salisbury finished with two runners in the top 10 as sophomore Steve Berstler placed sixth in a time of 26:22. Freshman Ryan Jackson began his career with a strong race, finishing in a time of 26:43 to place 14th. Junior Trent Seawell (27:10) place 18th and freshman Joel Anderson (27:28) finished in 23rd in his first collegiate race. Junior Trevor Keen (27:29) finished in 24th while freshman Matthew Hallenbeck (27:36) placed 27th to round out Salisbury's scoring.

The men's race winner was Hilly Mugun from the University of the District of Columbia, who finished in 25:43.

The top Salisbury finisher on the women's side was junior Becca Stinner who placed 19th with a time of 23:48, beginning a barrage of Salisbury runners, and helping the Gulls to 126 points.

Senior Kristin Stromberg placed 21st with a time of 23:51. Junior Emily Powell (24:12) took 31st, followed closely by fellow classmate Anna Steinman (24:22) in 35th place and freshman Emma Bahneman (24:26), in her first collegiate race, in 36th. A pair of freshmen, Amy Ferro (24:56) and Andrea Schwienteck (25:05), rounded out the Salisbury scoring, finishing 44th and 46th, respectively.

Loyola (Md.) University claimed the women's team title with 32 points followed by Rowan University (63) and Slippery Rock University (104). Slippery Rock's Crystal Burnick won the women's race with a time of 21:30.

The Sea Gull Opener was the first of three events Salisbury will host on the Winterplace Park course this season. The Don Cathcart Invitational will be held on Oct. 2 and Salisbury will play host to the Capital Athletic Conference Championship meet on Nov. 6.

Salisbury will be back in action in two weeks when they head north for the UMass-Dartmouth Invitational on Sept. 18.

Men's Team Results
1. Slippery Rock University 47
2. Salisbury University 55
3. Rowan University 75
4. Shenandoah University 114
5. Marietta College 115
6. Loyola University (Md.) 152
7. St. Mary's (Md.) College 191
8. University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg 251
9. Gallaudet University 285
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Women's Team Results
1. Loyola (Md.) University 32
2. Rowan University 63
3. Slippery Rock University 104
4. Salisbury University 126
5. Shenandoah University 134
6. Marietta College 135
7. St. Mary's (Md.) College 190
8. University of the District of Columbia 238
9. University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg 277
10. Anne Arundel Community College 284
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