JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Sept. 18, 2004) - The East Tennessee State women's cross country team finished seventh while the men's squad placed 10th at the Lou Onesty Invitational Saturday morning from Panaorama Farms in Charlottesville, Va. William and Mary won the men's team championship while host Virginia won the women's team title.

Junior Peter Dalton (Dublin, Ireland) had another strong performance, leading the Buccaneer men in the 8K event with a 17th place finish in a time of 25:54.70. Freshman Jordan Ladd (Lyn, Ontario) was the second ETSU finisher, placing 51st with a time of 27:04.40.

"Peter is learning to run and run well at the front," said ETSU head cross country coach Dave Walker. "It was a very good run for him in less than ideal conditions."

Liberty's Josh McDougal won the men's event with a time of 24:41.70 while Ohio State's Brian Olinger finished second and Virginia's Will Christian placed third.

Junior Christine Ward (Candler, N.C.) crossed the line first for the ETSU women, placing 27th on the 5K course in a time of 19.45.30. Senior Jennifer Habbestad (Tampa, Fla.) finished 49th in 20:32.50 while freshman MacKenzie LaBonte (Port Charlotte, Fla.) was the third Buccaneer finisher, crossing the line in 20:54.20 to finish 57th.

"MacKenzie has shown a lot of improvement from our first meet," commented assistant cross country coach Michelle Byrne. "She is working hard, doing the things on and off the course she needs to do in order to improve."

Virginia Tech's Jessica Fanning finished first with a time of 18:06.10, followed by Virginia's Emily Harrison (18:11.50) and UVA's Nadia Baadj (18:29.10).

ETSU cross country returns to action on Oct. 9 as the men's and women's teams compete at the Furman Invitational in Greenville, S.C.

Lou Onesty Invitational - Charlottesville, Va.

ETSU Men's Results - 8K
17. Peter Dalton 25:54.70
51. Jordan Ladd 27:04.40
99. Joshua Gibson 30:08.00
106. Towett Benard 31:03.80
110. Graham Foster 32:27.50

ETSU Women's Results - 5K
27. Christine Ward 19:45.30
49. Jennifer Habbestad 20:32.50
57. MacKenzie LaBonte 20:54.20
60. Maggie Hunter 20:58.10
69. Tiffany Collier 22:04.70
70. Tatiana Arriaran 22:39.40