---Drew Harris ran third overall and was the top non-Division I finisher in the men's 5K.

Men's Results | Women's Results | Photo Gallery

ALEXANDRIA, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University cross country teams opened their respective seasons by competing in the 27th annual Queen City Invitational at A.J. Jolly Park on Saturday.

The NKU men posted a third-place finish in the five-kilometer event, while the Norse women claimed fifth place in the team standings.

Cincinnati captured first-place honors in both events, with the Bearcat men finishing with a score of 28 points in the 10-team competition. Xavier was second with 49 points, followed by NKU with a score of 93.

Drew Harris paced the NKU men by taking third-place honors with a time of 15:44.30. Harris, a sophomore from Campbell County High School, finished seven seconds behind overall winner Tommy Kauffmann of Xavier (15:37.74).

Breylen Derrick took 22nd place for NKU with a time of 16:20.80, while teammate Matt Shoulta placed 25th with a time of 16:27.45. Ben Foley finished 28th in a time of 16:31.59.

The NKU men entered the event ranked 20th nationally in the NCAA Division II poll, which is conducted by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

In the women’s 12-team event, Cincinnati totaled 27 points to take first place, followed by second-place finisher Dayton (38), Xavier (66), Kenyon (136) and NKU (145).

NKU junior Jenna Siemer paced the Norse women by finishing 20th individually in a time of 19:41.35. NKU’s Janice Laker posted a 29th-place finish in a time of 20:06.59, and the Norse’s Jerrica Maddox took 36th place by completing the run in 20:27.08.

NKU returns to action next Saturday by competing in the Mel Brodt Invitational, which is being hosted by Bowling Green State. The women’s event is five kilometers, and the men will run an eight-kilometer competition.