STARKVILLE, Miss. – The University of West Alabama cross country team had a strong showing at the Mississippi State Invitational, as both teams finished fourth in the Saturday morning event.

UWA finished on the heels of Gulf South Conference foe Alabama in Huntsville in both the men’s and women’s team standings.

Junior Austin Enriquez paced the Tiger men with a time of 27 minutes, 10:48 seconds.  Enriquez finished 16th in the individual standings.  On the women’s side, UWA sophomore Carolyn Mancuso placed seventh with a time of 19:26.53 in the 5K.  The Toronto, Ontario, Canada-native crossed the line in a heap of MSU competitors.  MSU claimed both men’s and women’s titles on the home course.

Senior Spencer Gray finished the 8K event with a mark of 28:29.62 (26th) while Jonathan Sellers finished 30th with a time of 28:44.90.  Freshman Peter Kazery placed 32nd (29:00.73).  Camden Holmes (34th – 29:07.85) and Daniel LoVette (37th- 29:15.78) rounded out the scoring for the Tigers.

On the women’s side, UWA had three top-25 finishers behind Mancuso’s pace.  Junior Kelli Hartley and freshman Hannah Gray finished 22nd and 23rd respectively.  Hartley clocked a time of 21:49.40, while Gray posted a time of 21:51.73.  Sophomore Amy Benoit rounded out the top 25 with a mark of 21:55.13.

UWA will continue competition in the Magnolia state, as the Tigers will trek to Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, Sept. 26, to compete in the Pre-Southeastern Conference Meet, hosted by the University of Mississippi.  UM will be the host of the 2009 SEC Cross Country Championships later this year.