WILMINGTON, NC --- The University of Delaware men’s and women’s cross country squads got their 2005 seasons off to a good start Friday evening as the Blue Hen women captured the team title and the UD men were second at the Seahawk Classic hosted by UNC Wilmington.

Individually, Delaware sophomore P.J. Meany captured the men’s six kilometer race with a time of 18:48.86 while Blue Hen sophomore Colleen O’Brien, last year’s Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Year, was the winner in the women’s five-kilometer race with a clocking of 18:02.46.

UNC Wilmington will be the site of the CAA championship this coming Oct. 29. The Delaware men placed fourth at the CAA meet a year ago while the women placed fifth.

The Delaware women posted a team score of 65 Friday to take the team title, the program’s first since winning the Delaware Invitational Oct. 13, 2001. East Carolina was second with 70 points followed by Georgia State (72), host UNC Wilmington (75), Elon (77), Winston Salem State (176), and Mt. Olive (205).

On the men’s side, Georgia State won the team title with 27 points followed by runner-up Delaware (45), Elon (92), UNC Wilmington (93), East Carolina (95), Winston Salem State (191), and Mt. Olive (207).

O’Brien captured her first career individual title and led the Blue Hens for the sixth straight meet since last season. She covered the course in 18:02.46, easily beating runner-up Marissa Murtaugh of UNC Wilmington by over 12 seconds. The Delaware women placed three runners in the top 20 as freshman Julia Somers was sixth in 19:01.58 and junior Sari Weissbard was 11th (19:23.69).

Meany captured his third career men’s individual title as he covered the course in 18:48.86, a full 19 seconds faster than runner-up Yib Arega of Georgia State. The Blue Hens placed seven runners in the top 20 as freshman Gregg Cantwell was fifth (19:31.37), Kyle Schmid was 12th (19:43.01), Tyler Mayforth was 13th (19:49.56), Mike Ward was 14th (19:49.98), Tim Brock was 19th (20:17.34), and Mike Hazeltine was 20th (20:17.54).

AGATE:

Women’s Final Team Standings (5k): 1. Delaware - 65, 2. East Carolina - 70; 3. Georgia State - 72; 4. UNC Wilmington - 75; 5. Elon - 77; 6. Winston Salem State - 176; 7. Mount Olive - 205.

Top 5 Finishers: 1. Colleen O’Brien (Delaware), 18:02.46; 2. Marissa Murtaugh (UNCW), 18:14.82; 3. Ellen Bjork (UNCW), 18:34.80; 4. Jessica Collins (ECU), 18:47.01; 5. Andrea Smith (GSU), 18:56.31.

Delaware Competitors: 1. Colleen O’Brien, 18:02.46; 6. Julia Somers, 19:01.58; 11. Sari Weissbard, 19:23.69; 23. Renee Gresh, 20:06.33; 24. Leslie Wason, 20:09.32; 26. Meghan Weaver, 20:10.79; 27. Lexi Ambrogi, 20:11.94; 33. Colleen Reid, 20:24.73; 35. Brooke Maguire, 20:26.07; 39. Brenda Greene, 20:34.35; 42. Lauren Shaub, 20:43.95; 43. Tara Jakeway, 20:46.56; 44. Emily Bunker, 20:48.81; 45. Linsay Norris, 20:49.83; 52. Allison Behrle, 21:17.85; 53. Toni Riggi, 21:25.36; 56. Danielle Ward, 21:48.91; 59. Christine Dierickx, 22:22.0.