Stony Brook, N.Y. - The Stony Brook men’s and women’s cross country teams open their 2015 slate Saturday when they host the Stony Brook Season Opener.

The Seawolves will be joined by Central Connecticut, Hartford, UMass Lowell, Quinnipiac, and Sacred Heart for the first meet of the season. The day will begin with the women’s 4K at 10:30 a.m. and be followed by the men’s 6K with a starting gun at 11:15 a.m.

“We are looking forward to getting the season under way,” said Stony Brook head coach Andy Ronan. “Being at home for the first two meets makes it easier. We will split both the men's and women's squads between the two meets, so we will have solid teams out both weekends. Winning your home meets is important, but more important at this stage is seeing where every athlete is fitness-wise. They got a lot of training done over the summer and since we returned to campus. Now it's time to evaluate that work so we can prepare for the main part of the season right here at home on Oct. 31 with the America East Championships.”

Saturday marks the first of three home meets for the Seawolves in 2015, as Stony Brook will be home Saturday, Sept. 12 for the Wolfie Invitational and Saturday, Oct. 31 for the America East Championships.

The Season Opener is a meet the Seawolves won on both the men’s and women’s side in 2014, with two of the opposing teams – Quinnipiac and Sacred Heart – returning from last year’s field. Hartford and UMass Lowell will join the fray in 2015’s meet as they gain experience on a portion of the course that will be used for the America East Championships. Central Connecticut will also take part as the Blue Devils get started on their 2015 season.

On the women’s side, junior Christina Melian (Staten Island, N.Y.) returns for the Seawolves after winning the 4K race in 2014 in 14:31.98. Senior Tara Peck (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.), junior Olivia Ritchie (Chartwell, New Zealand), and junior Elizabeth Caldwell (Glen Head, N.Y.) also return after finishing in under 15 minutes a year ago.

For the men, senior Ryan Tancin (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) is the top returner after he finished second in 19:02.65 in 2014’s 6K. Senior Mitchell Kun (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and junior Matthew Lee (Dover Plains, N.Y.) were both in under 19:30 in last year’s event.