Grand Island, N.Y. - On Saturday, both the Robert Morris University men's and women's cross country teams competed at the Buffalo Stampede Invitational hosted by the University of Buffalo.  Once again, rookies led the way for the men as freshman Arthur Leathers (Taneytown, MD / Francis Scott Key) led the men with a 38th place finish and a time of 27:43.7 in the 8K race.  On the women's side, junior Emily Ingle ( Tyrone, Pa. / Tyrone) paced the team with her time of 20:39 and a 40th place finish.  Eleven teams competed in the men's event where the Colonials took seventh, and 10 teams ran in the women's meet where Robert Morris finished in sixth place. 

For the men's team, freshman Greg Opp (Somerset, PA / Somerset) had another strong showing with his time of 28:09.8, taking 49th place. Freshman Brian Mitchell (Allison Park, PA / Hampton) ran his for the first time this season finishing in 54th place and a time of 28:23.8. Julian Rankin  (Cecil, PA / Canon-McMillan) completed the course with a time of 28:52.2 in 61st place while Sonny Pinto (Greensburg, PA / Hempfield) ran a 30:54.2 and Anthony Thornton (Torrington, CT / Torrington) finished with a mark of 31:54.2.

 In the women's event, Deb Ostrander (Denton, MD / North Caroline) ran second for the Colonials with a 50th place finish and a time of 21:21.  Other top finishers for Robert Morris include Jera Mennetti (Coolspring, Pa. / Punxsutawney) who placed 67th with a time of 22:33, Ashley Slifko (Carnegie, PA / Chartiers Valley) in 72nd place at 22:59 and Sarah Ellsworth (Burgettstown, PA / Burgettstown) coming in at 23:27 in 76th place.

On Saturday, October 4, the Robert Morris cross country teams will return to action when they will run in the Slippery Rock University Pre National Meet at  Coopers Lake State Park, Pa.