NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. – The Allegheny cross country teams began their seasons at the Westminster Fisher Invitational Friday (Sept. 3).
 
The Gator women finished first in the field of five while the men finished fifth of sixth.
 
The women ran well as a pack en route to the victory. Nelly Stafford (Middletown, Md./Middletown) led the team with a seventh-place finish, clocking in at 19:21.54. Mazzie Standish (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny), Leuca Hanish (Baden, Pa./Ambridge), Chloe Bonson (Penn Township, Pa./Penn-Trafford) and Megan Aaron (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) rounded out the Gators' top five by placing 9th through 12th, respectively.
 
The men were led by Sean Heintzleman (Pittsburgh, Pa./Winchester Thurston), who placed ninth with a time of 15:34.81. Joe McAuliffe (Massillon, Ohio/Jackson) was not far behind in 12th. Desmond Corrado (Crafton, Pa./Carlynton) finished 17th, Caleb Freeman (Killingworth, Conn./Haddam-Killongworth) finished 32nd and Xavier Grove (Pittsburgh, Pa./CAPA) rounded out the top five in 35th.
 
The Gators are back in action Sept. 17 when they host the annual Allegheny Classic. The women's race starts at 10 am followed by the men at 10:45 am.
 
Women's Top Seven Finishes
7th: Stafford (19.21.54)
9th: Standish (19:23.45)
10th: Hanish (19:23.57)
11th: Bonson (19:24.80)
12th: Aaron (19:45.89)
14th: Hailey Stupay (Shaker Heights, Ohio/Shaker Heights)
15th: Celia Cocca (East Aurora, New York/East Aurora)
 
Men's Top Seven Finishes
9th: Heintzleman (15:34.81)
12th: McAuliffe (15:44.59)
17th: Corrado (15:59.94)
32nd: Freeman (16:27.51)
35th: Grove (16:33.94)
43rd: Patrick Sharp (Brighton, N.Y./Brighton)  (16:48.44)
44th: Mac Polny (Robinson, Pa./Montour) (17:03.52)