NEW BOSTON, Mich. – The University of Michigan-Dearborn cross country program hosted an intercollegiate race for the first time in program history with the inaugural Wolverine Twilight Invitational Friday at Willow Metro Park in New Boston, Mich.
The Wolverine men finished second in the team standings, with four freshmen runners finishing in the top 12, while the women took fourth, led by a pair of sophomore athletes. Madonna swept the meet, taking the men's and women's team titles.
Ryan Exell led the Wolverine men in his first college meet, finishing eighth with a time of 16:25.5 in the 5K race. Three more UM-Dearborn freshmen followed, led by Demetrius Johnson in 10th place with a time of 16:35.5, while Owen Rowader and John Romeo Gaton were 11th and 12th, respectively.
Sophomore Victoria Hebda led the UM-Dearborn women in 11th place with a time of 20:09.7 in the 5K event, while fellow sophomore Julia Cercone was 20th in 21:36.4.
The Wolverines travel to Calvin College for the Calvin Knight Invitational Sept. 8 in Grand Rapids, Mich.
