Slippery Rock, Pa. ? On Saturday morning, the Robert Morris University cross country team was back in action at the Slippery Rock University Pre-National Invitational meet held at Cooper's Lake Campground.
The men's team faced off against 22 other teams from around the country. The University of California San Diego won the men's race with 52 points followed by nationally ranked NEC school, Lock Haven.
Freshman Julian Rankin (Cecil, PA /Canon-McMillan) led the RMU team with a 46th place finish and a time of 27:16. The second place runner for the Colonials was Brian Mitchell (Allison Park, PA / Hampton) with a time of 27:56. The Robert Morris squad was rounded out by Arthur Leathers (Taneytown, MD / Francis Scott Key) at 28:04, Malcolm Muhammad (Verona, Pa. / Penn Hills) at 28:46, Jared Feinstein (Lebanon, PA / Cedar Crest) at 28:51, Anthony Thornton Torrington, CT / Torrington) at 30:02, and Sylvan Pinto (Greensburg, PA / Hempfield) at 31:21.
The women's team also completed in the event taking 22nd place out of 29 teams. Emily Ingle (Tyrone, Pa. / Tyrone) led the Colonials with a time of 24:24 and Jessica Duffel (Punxsutawney, Pa. / Punxsutawney) followed with a time of 25:11. The RMU team was also represented by Marie George (Johnstown, PA / Richland) who completed the course in 25:40, Sarah Ellsworth (Burgettstown, PA / Burgettstown) with a time of 26:52, Ashley Slifko (Carnegie, PA / Chartiers Valley) at 27:06, Sarah Fyock (Schellsburg, Pa. / Chestnut Ridge) at 27:41 and Jera Mennetti (Coolspring, Pa. / Punxsutawney) at 27:47.
The Colonial's next meet will be on October 17 at the Penn State National Meet in State College, Pa.
