BIDDEFORD, Maine - The University of Maine at Farmington men's and women cross country teams each took 1st place at the Ron Ouellette Invitational hosted by the University of New England on Saturday, opening the season on a high note. 

Women's Race

Three University of Maine at Farmington women's cross country runners came home with medals, finishing inside the top-seven on Saturday, battling through the sweltering heat and humidity. Joy Evans took 1st place in her 1st collegiate race, finishing the 5k course in 21:46.8, 23 seconds faster than the 2nd place finisher. 

Eve Poteet (Fairhill, MD) placed 3rd overall with a time of 22:46.3 while Anna MacDonald (Bangor, Maine) also medalled with a 6th place finish and a time of 23:45.9. 

MacDonald's sister, first-year Abigail MacDonald (Bangor, Maine) just missed out on a medal, placing 8th overall. MacDonald's 8th place finish came in 25:42.5. 

Sarah Chapin (Readfield, Maine) and Cara Perry (Stoughton, Mass.) also finished for the Beavers today. Chapin was 16th overall with a time of 28:19.6. Perry placed 22nd with a time of 32:54.4

The Beavers finished 1st overall as a team with 31 points, narrowly beating out the University of New England. 

Men's Race

Similarly to the women, three racers placed inside the top seven to bring home medals. Justin Castaldo (Scarborough, Maine) was the 1st Beaver across the finish line with a time of 29:11.6 on the 8k course. 

First-year Andrew Laflamme (Nashua, N.H.) finished just six seconds behind Castaldo in 29:17.5 to place 5th overall. Jimmy Reel (Nashua, N.H.) also placed inside the top-seven to medal for the Beavers. Reel finished with a time of 29:50.4.

Ethan Linscott (Lakeville, Maine), Luke Bliss (Underhill, Vermont), James Riley (Shrewbury, Mass.), and Connor Freeman (Bath, Maine) finished 8th-11th overall. Linscott finished with a time of 29:50.4 to narrowly miss out on a medal. Bliss finished in 29:54.9, Riley in 29:59.0, and Freeman in 31:02.4.

First-years Joseph Burgess (Gray, Maine) and Cody Donovan (Saco, Maine) also finished for the Beavers. Burgess placed 18th with a time of 35:04.3 while Donovan finished 20th with a time of 35:16.0.

UP NEXT

The Beavers will travel to Presque Isle next weekend to compete at the University of Maine at Presque Isle on Saturday, September 16th.