Sept. 28, 2002

Senior Michelle DiPenti (Warren, PA/Warren Area HS) placed third among collegians to lead the George Mason women's cross country team to a 10th-place finish of 15 teams at Saturday's George Washington Invitational. Junior Ben Sommers (Nashua, NH/Nashua HS) posted a team-high 45th finish among collegians to lead the men's team to an 11th-place finish of 15 teams. Georgetown won the women's team championship, while the University at Albany was first for the men.

DiPenti completed the 5,000-meter course in 18 minutes, 41.88 seconds (18:41.88) to place a season-high third of 161 collegiate runners. Junior Dana Early (Milmont Park, PA/Ridley) placed 47th in 20:01.20 in her first meet of the season, while sophomore Sara Hines (Strasburg, VA/Strasburg) placed 59th in 20:20.27.

Sommers finished the 8,000-meter men's course in 27:42.80 to place 45th of 149 collegiate runners. Senior Kevin Nishiyama (Warrington, PA/Central Bucks East) posted a season-best time of 27:51.46 to finish 47th, followed by freshman Dennis Moriarty (Rockville Centre, NY/Southside HS) in 60th in a season-best 28:15.66.

The Patriots will host the Mason Invitational this Saturday, Oct. 5, at Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville, VA. The women's 6,000-meter race will begin at 10:30 a.m., followed by the men's 8,000-meter race at 11:30 a.m.

Women's Results
(5,000 meters, finish among collegians)
3. Michelle DiPenti, 18:41.88
47. Dana Early, 20:01.20
59. Sara Hines, 20:20.27
95. Meghan Millar, 21:22.86
98. Rose Moeser, 21:31.52
105. Zulie Thomas, 21:48.07

Men's Results
(8,000 meters, finish among collegians)
45. Ben Sommers, 27:42.80
47. Kevin Nishiyama, 27:51.46
60. Dennis Moriarty, 28:15.66
70. Ricardo Cunningham, 28:28.54
85. Mashel Jackson, 28:48.99
93. Arjun Dabir, 29:07.30
103. Lawrence Strauss, 29:32.35
108. Alex Gornik, 29:41.11
129. Peter Verasin, 31:22.97