HANOVER, Ind.---The Xavier University men’s cross country team opened up the 2002 season with a strong performance in the Hanover Invitational in Hanover, Indiana, in placing second out of 16 teams. Xavier finished with a total of 69 points, seven points short of the first place team.

Sophomores Patrick Rischmann (Cincinnati/LaSalle) and Drew LaMaster (Prospect, Ky./South Oldham) were the top runners for Xavier. Rischmann was Xavier’s first finisher in posting a time of 26:54.89 in finishing ninth, while teammate LaMaster finished shortly after with a time of 27:14.21 to claim 10th. Junior Mike Doran (Louisville, Ky./Trinity) ran a 27:18.9 in finishing 11th. Dan Cihal (Omaha, Neb./Mt. Michael Benedictine) finished with a time of 27:38.25, good enough for 14th place. Chris Tieke (Cincinnati/Glen Este) ended the scoring for Xavier in finishing 25th with a time of 27:56.41.

Both the men’s and women’s teams compete next Saturday. The men are in New Concord, Ohio for the Muskingum Invitational, while the women travel to Bowling Green, Ohio for the Bowling Green Invitational for their season opener.