Lacey, Wash. – Eagle cross country runners Lindsey Wagner and Seth Bridges led NU in top finishes in the St. Martin’s Invitational today as NU kicked off their 2009 cross country season and Head Coach Mark Mandi’s first meet at the helm.

Wagner (Soph., Olympia, Wash.), a 2008 qualifier for the NAIA National Championships, finished third in the women’s division with a 6k time of 24:32.70, while Bridges (Soph., Anderson Island, Wash.) took second, running the 8k men’s course in 26:10.20.

Sophomore Paige DeLapp finished 12^th in the 6k with her time of 25:20.20 and freshman Matt Porter also finished 12^th for the men with his time of 28:30.50 for the 8k distance. Frosh Garrett Foot was 34^th coming in at 32:56.20 and Jimmy Reed ran a 37:52.20 finishing 42^nd.

Karen Steen, running unattached won the women’s 6k (23:31.60) and Suzy Olsen of Pacific Lutheran took second (23:56.90). Bridges was edged out by John Riak, a St. Martin’s alum, who broke the tape at 25:28.80.

The women’s team title was won by Pacific Lutheran and host St. Martin’s took the men’s division. Other teams taking part in the meet were host St, Martin’s University, PLU, Evergreen State College, and the University of Puget Sound.