FULL RESULTS

Elmhurst, Ill. - The Wheaton College cross country teams opened their 2009 seasons on Friday afternoon by participating in the Elmhurst College Early Bird Invitational at Eldridge Park in Elmhurst. The Wheaton women's team finished first in a 13-team field in the women's meet. The Thunder men's team was second of 17 teams in their respective competition.

The Thunder women's team finished first with a balanced effort that tallied 56 points, Lewis University was second with 66 points, Elmhurst scored 81 points in third place, Illinois Tech scored 93 points in fourth place and Judson took fifth with 111 points.

Senior Jennifer Bowles was the top finisher in sixth place for the Thunder with a time of 15:40 on the 4K course. Junior Jennifer Parisi ran the course in 15:44 in eighth place. Sara Greeley was 12th with a time of 16:03 and Abby Mitchell posted a time of 16:12 in 15th place. Senior Sarah Beasley was 23rd in 16:28 and Martha Bentz tallied a time of 16:29 in 24th place.

North Central won the men's race with 15 points, Wheaton was second with 58 points, the North Central freshman team was third with 120 points, St. Francis (Ill.) scored 148 points in fourth place and Illinois Tech was fifth with 167 points.

Senior Brian Wurtz was the top finisher for the Wheaton men with a time of 19:44 on the 6K course to finish in 11th place. Freshman Mark Phillips was 14th with a time of 19:58 and Jacob Goertz finished 17th in 20:01. Freshman Nate Hatton was 18th in 20:02 and Todd Vankerhoff posted a time of 20:05 in 19th place. Sophomore Jimmy Greene tallied an effort of 20:27 in 29th place.