Newville, PA: This Saturday, Cairn University's Men and Women's Cross Country teams competed at the Dickinson Long/Short Invitational. With two racing options, the Highlanders chose to spread out their runners among both the Men's 8k and 4k races and the Women's 6k and 4k races. Scoring is done by totaling the top three runner's scores from each race.Sophomore Alyssa Hampson, Sophomore Anna Polarine, and Junior Shannon Hammond competed in the Women's 6k race. Polarine was Cairn's top finisher crossing the finish line with a season PR of 26:56. Hampson, who has been battling with a recent injury, persevered with tough determination, coming in next for Cairn at 28:29. Coach Bofinger explained that the key for this week's 4k race was rooted in their strong, tight pack of top runners.Running the Women's 4k race was Senior Hannah Eichner, Sophomore Kellie Grosvenor, Sophomore Erin Webster, Freshman Sabrina-Rose Mason, and Freshman Yani Ortiz-Suarez . Grosvenor came in with a time of 18:45 with Mason following close behind at 19:16. Mason, a first year runner for Cairn but with four years of high school experience, has been able to improve each race with a new breakthrough performance. This week she, "loved the short racing distance" which enabled her to "fly by other runners" and put her natural speed to good use. Webster crossed the line with a time of 19:55. Eichner finished at 21:45 and Ortiz-Suarez crossed the line with a time of 24:26. The Highlander men ran well in both races. Competing in the men's 8k race was first year runner Matthew Benedict, who ran his way to the top as the first finisher for Cairn in with a PR and 6th Cairn all-time performance of 29:29. Sophomore Caleb Basile finished as a top finisher with a time of 29:31. Basile stated that, "It was tough following so close behind a talented teammate like Benedict. He's a really good guy and an awesome addition to the team this season." Sophomore Matt DeFlavis ran his own PR of 31:40. Coming in next was Senior Wayne Hailstone finishing with 34:04. Competing in the Men's 4k race was Junior Eric MacIntire, Senior Captain Matt Basile, Freshman Jonathan Snider, Freshman Austin Mortimer, Sophomore Wilson Cordon-Lopez, Junior Will Lynd, and Freshman Daniel Sweeting. MacIntire crossed the line first for the Highlanders in 13:47. Captain Basile finished strong with a time of 14:16. Snider crossed the line at 15:25 with Mortimer right on his heels at 15:27. Cordon-Lopez crossed the finish line at 17:47. First year running debut duo Will Lynd and Daniel Sweeting came in at 18:28 and 18:36, respectively. Coach Bofinger came out of retirement and raced the Men's 4k unattached for S.W.I.F.T Racing with a respectable time of 13:17.The Highlanders will race next this coming Saturday, September 27, 2014 at the Messiah College Invitational. Coach Bofinger was pleased with both the men's and women's performances and looks forward to actualizing the great potential this season holds.