From Brandeis University Athletics

The Brandeis University cross country teams got their 2015 seasons off to a terrific start today at the Roger Williams Invitational at Colt State Park in Rhode Island. The Brandeis men finished first out of 14 teams, while the women were second out of 15 squads. Both teams scored 40 points and had five of the top 17 finishers, including the third and fourth finisher. Both races were five-kilometer events.

MEN

TOP FIVE TEAMS

1)      BRANDEIS 40

2)      Franklin Pierce 43

3)      Wentworth 104

4)      UMass Dartmouth 112

5)      Bridgewater State 175

BRANDEIS INDIVIDUAL FINISHERS (5K)

1)      Ryan Stender 16:13 (3^rd overall)

2)      Matt Doran 16:18 (4^th)

3)      Mitchell Hutton 16:33 (8^th)

4)      Brian Sheppard 16:37 (10^th)

5)      Roger Lacroix 16:58 (15^th)

6)      Russell Santos 17:10 (20^th)

7)      Max Whitmore 17:13 (23^rd)

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• The Judges, ranked 7^th in New England Division 3, defeated the No. 4 team in Division 2 in the region, Franklin Pierce.
• Sophomore Ryan Stender (Amherst, Mass./Amherst) was the team's top finisher for the first time in his career. He was just one second behind the winner from Gordon College and runner-up from Wentworth.
• The team's top seven finishers consisted of six sophomores and a junior (Matt Doran/Hopedale, Mass./Hopdale).
• Brandeis had a one-minute spread from first to seventh place.