Junior David Talbird finished ninth overall as he led the GW men’s cross country team to a fourth-place finish out of 16 teams this weekend at the GW Invitational. The women’s team, led by freshman Mary Beth McCullough, placed 10th out of 19 teams.

Talbird ran the race 26:04, just 47 seconds off the lead of Coppin State University’s top runner, Nickie Peters. GW sophomore David Azari, who beat his personal best by more than a minute, placed 16th overall at 26:17.

Penn State University racked up the fewest points, 48, to win the men’s competition. GW (174 points) placed fourth behind Seton Hall University (102) and Shippensburg University (126).

McCullough, who ran a 19:39 for 34th overall, was GW’s top women’s finisher. Three other women’s runner placed in the top 55, including senior Jenee Peterson, who was 11 seconds behind McCullough and placed 43th overall.

Richmond won the women’s race with 38 points and was followed by James Madison University (115) and Georgetown (136).

The Colonials travel to Greenville, N.C., for the East Carolina Invitational Oct. 6.
-Sean Lee