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Stony Brook, N.Y. - Racing against the defending national champion and No. 18 Providence women's cross country team, Stony Brook junior Christina Melian won the Wolfie Invitational in a 5k time of 18:37.36.

Melian convincingly beat out the Friars' Briana Ilarda, who was second in 18:41.86.  

The field also included Columbia, which is ranked eighth in the women's USTFCCCA Northeast Regional Poll. The Seawolves are 10th in the Northeast.

"We went into today's race knowing it was an early-season chance to see where we are in relation to two of the best programs in the region," Stony Brook cross country head coach Andy Ronan said. "I feel that we represented ourselves well. Christina [Melian] showed a lot of maturity in the way she raced, using the experience she has gained over the last two years to put herself in a position to win at the end."

Junior Tara Peck and sophomore Olivia Ritchie placed eighth and ninth, respectively, in 19:02.52 and 19:03.74. Sophomore Elizabeth Caldwell clocked in at 19:09.41 for 11th. Freshman Tiana Guevara posted a strong showing in the second race of her collegiate career, finishing 18th in 19:26.94.

"Tara Peck had a great run, probably her best collegiate race to date," Ronan said.

"Elizabeth [Caldwell] and Olivia [Ritchie] both had positive runs as they learn how to race at this level, and freshman Tiana Guevara had another solid run to add to the one in the first meet."

Providence finished first overall with 40 points, and Stony Brook and Columbia followed with 47 points apiece. Marist was fourth with 89 points.

Junior Mitchell Kun paced the men with a 17th-place finish in 25:46.55. Providence won the meet with 26 points, and Columbia followed with 30 points. UConn (102 points), Marist (107 points) and Stony Brook (132 points) rounded out the field.

"We knew we were putting out an inexperienced group today and that it was always going to be an interesting result," Ronan said. "The freshmen got their first taste of 8k running. They struggled physically and mentally at various times throughout the race but will be better for this experience."

The Seawolves are back in action Friday, Sept. 26 at the Coast-to-Coast Battle in Beantown. The meet gets started at 3:30 p.m. in Franklin Park, Mass.

Notes

Melian won the Stony Brook Season Opener Aug. 30 in a 4k time of 14:31.98...Ronan, who has brought national and regional acclaim to the Seawolves cross country and track and field programs during his tenure, is a 1986 graduate of Providence.