NEW MARKET, Va. -- The Blue Hen men’s cross country team finished fourth while the Delaware women were fifth as both UD squads opened their 2009 seasons on Saturday at the James Madison Open.

The Delaware men’s team finished with 113 points to place fourth out of eight teams. Duke won the men’s title with 23 points, following by Georgetown at 42, Northeastern at 102, and the Blue Hens. The Blue Devils also captured the women’s crown with 18 points to edge the nine-team field, followed by James Madison at 55, Northeastern at 94, Georgia State at 113, and Delaware at 115.

The Blue Hen men’s squad was paced by senior Nick Pyle, who ran the 7,900-meter race in 25:48.7 to finish in 18th place. Andrew Weaver came in 26th place in 26:01.9 for Delaware, while George Vernon was 32nd in 26:23.9 and Ed Bonnevie placed 35th in 26:27.6.

Steve Vincent crossed the finish line in 26:31.10 to come in 38th place, followed by teammates Nate Parmenter in 26:34.4 and Mitch Kastoff in 26:37.4.

Senior Julia Somers (at right) led the Blue Hen women by finishing the 5,100-meter race in 20:00.7 to place 20th, while Jessie Ermak was 27th in 20:13.5 and Kate Deinert finished 28th in 20:15.3. Katy Loughran placed 33rd for Delaware with a time of 20:46.9, while Sophia Kauffman was 35th in 20:48.8 and Karen Mandrachia finished 36th in 20:51.5.

Lexi Ambrogi placed 39th in 20:58.6 for the Blue Hens, followed immediately by Ali Zukowski in 21:00.4 and Kellyn Wright in 21:02.00.

Mark Dennin of Georgetown won the men’s race in 24:16.8, while Emily Schwitzer of Duke took the women’s race in 18:09.5.

Both UD teams return to action on Saturday, September 19 when they host the Delaware Invitational at White Clay Creek State Park. The men’s race will begin at 10:30 a.m. while the women’s race will start at 11:15 a.m.

AGATE

Women’s Final Standings: 1. Duke - 18; 2. James Madison - 55; 3. Northeastern - 94; 4. Georgia State - 113; 5. Delaware - 115; 6. George Mason - 197; 7. Longwood - 209; 8. Howard - 263; 9. Eastern Mennonite - 314.

Top 10 Finishers: 1. Emily Schwitzer (Duke), 18:09.5; 2. Carly Seymour (Duke), 18:12.5; 3. Janel Blancett (Georgia State), 18:41.5; 4. Suejin Ahn (Duke), 18:41.9; 5. Sophia Ziemian (Duke), 18:48.0; 6. Mary Carleton Johnston (Duke), 18:51.2; 7. Alison Parris (James Madison), 18:58.5; 8. Madeline Morgan (Duke), 19:00.2; 9. Esther Vermeer (Duke), 19:08.6; 10. Katelyn Bastert (Duke), 19:19.2.

Delaware Finishers: 20. Julia Somers, 20:00.7; 27. Jessie Ermak, 20:13.5; 28. Kate Deinert, 20:15.3; 33. Katy Loughran, 20:46.9; 35. Sophia Kauffman, 20:48.8; 36.Karen Mandrachia, 20:51.5; 39. Lexi Ambrogi, 20:58.6; 40. Ali Zukowski, 21:00.4; 41. Kellyn Wright, 21:02.00; 49. Sarah Ports, 21:18.40; 51. Isabel Graf, 21:21.40, 52. Alexandra Lambert, 21:26.10.