GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Florida Gulf Coast University women's cross-country team opened the season in the Mountain Dew/Gator Invitational on Friday night. The team finished seventh of 19.

Megan Thies (Brandon, Fla.), a freshman, led the Eagles in her first competition. Thies placed 38th with a time of 20:04.35. Classmate Angela Hegge (Odessa, Fla.) followed with a mark of 20:08.54 and came in 42nd in the race. Cadie Sly (Loxahatchee, Fla.) and Taylor Cooke (Homosassa, Fla.), also a freshman, finished 46th and 47th with times of 20:16.64 and 20:18.30 respectively. Kim Gallagher (Naples, Fla.) rounded the scoring runners with a mark of 21:41.62.

The Eagles finished with a team score of 221 while the host (Florida) won the event with a team score of 19.

The team will be back in action again on September 22 when they travel to Tallahassee for the Florida State Invitational.