The SVC men's and women's cross country squads teamed up to open up the 2009 season by hosting the fifth annual Saint Vincent Alumni Run 5K.

Seventy-five runners total participated in the event, with the current Lady Bearcat squad defeating the women alums by a score of 19-43.

Ivette Mejia was the first overall female finisher, covering the 5K course in 19:42 for the Lady Bearcats.  Tess Jones, a 2007 SVC graduate and current assistant coach for the Lady Bearcats, led the alumni women, finishing second behind Mejia with a time of 20:15.

Rounding out the top finishers for the current Lady Bearcats - Katie Macioce was the third female finisher, ending with a time of 21:13.  Teammate Emma Goetz finished right behind Macioce, turning in a time of 21:17, while Claudia Arrunategui took fourth (21:44), Natalie Wolff fifth (21:45), Brenda Hartman sixth (23:13), and Carrie Brust seventh (24:03).

Following Jones for the alumni, 2005 graduate Amanda Rubis was the seventh overall female finisher (23:23), Sarah Johnson-Barnett 14th (25:31), Erica Gaster 17th (26:41), Tara Karns 19th (27:07), and Mariann Vaczi 20th (27:43).

The Lady Bearcats will return to action this coming Saturday, traveling to the California University (PA) Invitational at Willowbrook Golf Course in Rostraver Township.