Sept. 23, 2002

The George Mason University men's and women's cross country teams competed at the JMU Invitational last weekend where both teams showed improvement. The women's team was runner-up to host James Madison out of seven teams, while the men's team placed fifth of eight teams. Penn State was the top men's team at the meet.

Senior Michelle DiPenti (Warren, PA/Warren Area HS) led the women's team finishing the 5,000-meter course fifth among collegians in 18 minutes, 25.60 seconds (18:25.60), almost two minutes faster than her time at the season-opening Salty Sea Dog Invitational one week ago. Each Patriot on the women's team improved their times in their second meet, including sophomore Ryann Holmes (Largo, MD/Largo HS), placing 13th in 19:50.10. Sophomore Sara Hines (Strasburg, VA/Strasburg) also finished in the top-20 at 16th in 20:01.40.

Junior Ben Sommers (Nashua, NH/Nashua HS) led the men's team for the second straight week, finishing the 8,000-meter course in a season-best 27:00.90 to place 18th. Freshman Dennis Moriarty (Rockville Centre, NY/Southside HS) finished 37th in 28:46.00, while sophomore Lawrence Strauss (Falls Church, VA/JEB Stuart) placed 28th in a season-best time of 28:57.40.

Both Patriot cross country teams return to action this Saturday, Sept. 28, at the George Washington Invitational to be held at Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville, VA.