SALISBURY, Md. – The Emory & Henry College Men's and Women's Cross Country Teams officially opened the 2015 season on Saturday morning, competing in the 19th Annual Salisbury University Fall Classic at Winter Place Park. The E&H men claimed a fifth-place finish while the Wasp women were sixth.

Leading the way for the Emory & Henry men's team was junior Alex Cooper (Christiansburg, Va.), who covered the 8K course in a time of 28:15 to finish 35th. Sophomore Michael LoGrande (Alexandria, Va.) was 39th in 28:23 while sophomore Michael Cawood (Louisville, Ky.) was six seconds behind in 42nd.

Freshman Austin Tolbert (Wytheville, Va.)  posted a time of 28:36 in his first competition at the 8K distance to finish fourth for E&H while sophomore Buck Kirtland (Richmond, Va.) rounded out the top five, running a 28:52.

Michael Karls of the United States Naval Academy won the race in 26:07 while Rowan University claimed the team title, putting six runners in the top 13.

In the women's 6K race, sophomore Meg Greene (Charlotte, N.C.) was 17th overall, running a 24:57 to lead the Wasps. Freshmen Kayla Mulkey (Wise, Va.) and McKenna Tankersley (Big Stone Gap, Va.) finished 23rd (25:30) and 29th (26:08), respectively, in their collegiate debuts.

Junior Elizabeth Wilson (Roanoke, Va.) was the fourth runner for Emory & Henry, posting a time of 26:16 to finish 32nd while freshman Taylor Henderson (Glade Spring, Va.) rounded out the top five with a time of 27:20.

Shenandoah University's Shelby Shrader ran a 23:29 to earn medalist honors while Marymount University placed four runners in the top 12 to claim the team title.

Emory & Henry will next compete in the Bridgewater Invitational on Friday at 5:00 p.m. The race will serve as the preview for the 2015 ODAC Championships.

---E&H---

-photo courtesy of Keith Lucas/Sideline Media