The University of Florida men’s and women’s cross country teams opened their 2003 seasons with first-place finishes to capture the Florida Gator Invitational on Saturday morning at the UF Golf Course.

The Florida men’s team won its 8k race with 22 points to beat runner up South Florida by 57 points. The Gator men ran well as a team and had a pack spread of less than one minute at 38.35. The Gator women took first in the 5k event with 37 points to edge out defending Gator Invitational South Florida by just three points. This marks 13^th time in the 15 year history of the race the Gator women have won the title.

Both of the Gators’ teams dominated individually on their home course.

Freshman Steven Hassen began his collegiate career impressively as he finished first overall with a time of 25:03.55. Hassen was one of five Gators to finish in the top-10. All eleven of the Florida men finished in the top-20 of the 95 runners.

Men’s junior Cory Presnick finished in third place with a time of 25:14.44 and was one of four Gators to run personal-best times, Joining Presnick with personal-best times were junior Brett Schneider, sophomore Adam Sisler and junior Alex Phipps.

Junior Carling Cookerly led the women’s team a time of 18:15.30 to finish in fourth place behind South Florida winner Christa Benton who ran a 17:49.22. Benton also won the 2002 Gator Invitational. Florida junior Kay Lennon finished just behind Cookerly in fifth place with a personal-best time of 18:25.85. Seven of Florida’s women placed in the top-15.

Four members of Florida’s women’s team finished with personal-best times. In addition to Lennon, junior Jennifer Riley, sophomore Diane Avigne and sophomore Charlie Cookerly ran personal-best 5k races.

Florida’s cross-country teams return to action Sept. 20 when they participate in the Bulldog Stampede in Athens, Ga.

Men’s Team Scores

1. Florida, 22
2. South Florida, 79
3. Florida Southern, 82
4. Tampa, 92
5. Florida A&M, 109
6. Embry-Riddle, 164
7. St. Thomas, 200
8. Florida Tech, 205
9. Florida Gulf Coast, 275

Women’s Team Scores

1. Florida, 37
2. South Florida, 40
3. Tampa, 65
4. Florida Southern, 88
5. Florida Tech, 137
6. Embry-Riddle, 151
7. Florida A&m, 199
8. Florida Gulf Coast, 242
9. St. Leo, 264

Men’s Individual Champion

Steven Hassen, Florida 25:03. 55

Men’s Top 25 Agate

2. Darin Shearer, Unattached, 25:07.80; 3. Cory Presnick, Florida, 25:14.44; 4. Elias, Gonzalez, Tampa, 25:19.82; 5. Sean Burris, South Florida, 25:26.68; 6. Brent Schneider, Florida, 25:27.27; 7. Steve Zieminski, Florida, 25:33.42; 8. Adam Chumbley, South Florida, 25:38.80; 9. Moise Joseph, Florida, 25:41.85; 10. Nico DeVries, Unattached, 25:45.18; 11. Tyrone Bell, Florida Southern, 25:53.22; 12. Jeremy Miller, Florida, 26:00.47; 13. Jose Garcia, Florida, 26:05.13; 14. Adam Sisler, Florida, 26:13.71; Ryder Leary, Florida, 26:25.25; 16. Omar Osbourne, Florida A&M, 26:26.85; 17. Derek Lincoln, South Florida, 26:43.53; 18. Philip Laird, Florida, 26:56.80; 19. Nick Kraus, Tampa, 26:57.80; 20. Alex Phipps, Florida, 27:04.63; 21. John Emerson, Florida Southern, 27:05.80; 22. Brandon West, Florida A&M, 27:08.87; 23. Louis Rufo, Florida Southern, 27:18.07; 24. Jonathan Alter, Florida Southern, 27:19.33; 25. Eric Ward, Florida A&M, 27:43.32.

Women’s Individual Champion

Christa Benton, South Florida, 17:49.22

Women’s Top 25 Agate

2. Jessica Hellender, South Florida, 18:05.32; 3. Allison Mascas, Tampa, 18:!4.39; 4. Carling Cookerly, Florida, 18:15.30; 5. Kay Lennon, Florida, 18:21.55; 6. Benta General, South Florida, 18:25.85; 7. Mallory Dunn, Florida, 18:38.26; 8. Jael Koesch, Florida Southern, 18:59.44; 9. Dierdre Shearer, Unattached, 19:00.39; 10. Dee Dee Haefling, Tampa, 19:01.61; 11. Jennifer Riley, Florida, 19:03.14; 12. Jacqueline Mariani, Florida, 19:11.16; 13. Elizabeth Bragg, Tampa, 19:12.48; 14. Jessica Newton, Florida, 19:25.22; 15. Elly Kabboord, Florida, 19:29.67; 16. Lupe Merlos, St. Thomas, 19:30.52; 17. Diane Avigne, Florida, 19:31.98; 18. Shay Cookerly, Florida, 19:36.51; 19. Kristen Poulos, South Florida, 19:37.31; 20. Sara Hall, South Florida, 19:53.68; 21. Kim Munksgaard, Florida, 19:54.64; 22. Amanda Schommer, Florida, 19:59.24; 23. Kimi Rucks, Florida Southern, 20:02.44; 24. Charlie Cookerly, Florida, 20:03.25; 25. April Avery, Florida Southern, 20:04.80