PALATINE, Ill. - A shortened course, tough terrain and competing with a smaller roster couldn't hinder the Ashford University men's cross country team from succeeding in the first meet of 2010, as the Saints took home second place honors at the Seventh Annual Harper Hawks Invitational on Saturday.

Five Saints placed in the top 20 overall to help secure the runner-up finish.

"Overall, I'm very happy with the results we put together today," said AU Head Coach Tyson Graham. "The difference in mileage was apparent in some of the results, as many our runners felt they were just getting into the groove of things and while the race was coming to a finish. What this meet does provide us with is a good measure of where we are at physically and mentally for the season."

Running without senior Andrew Drinkall of Hoopole, Ill., and sophomore Patrick McClain of Gary, Ind., the Saints lined up with five runners competing in their first collegiate meet.

One of those newcomers paced the Saints, however, as freshman Brian Meyer of Bloomington, Ill., finished in fifth place with a time of 16:24. After staying within a close-knit pack for a majority of the race, Meyer pushed his way past two other competitors for the fifth-place finish.

Sophomore Mizael Carrera of Northlake Ill., and junior transfer Doug Powers of Greenup, Ill., each crossed the line in 17:02, earning ninth and 10th-place finishes, respectively. Not even a minute later did two more Saints cross the finish line, as sophomore Ray Rivera of Franklin Park, Ill., and freshman Thomas Hansen of Hometown, Ill., completed their races.

With a time of 17:18, Rivera took home 12th while Hansen finished 17th after crossing the line in 17:47. Sophomore Rafael Crisosto of Franklin Park, Ill., was right behind Hansen for 24th at 18:24.

With a time 18:45, freshman Matt McCune of Davenport earned a 30th-place finish in his first meet.

Freshman Carl Woodard of Silvis, Ill., and junior Robert Phillips of Bartlett, Ill., finished within five seconds of each other, as Woodard ran to a time of 20:02 while Phillips came to a rest at 20:07, good for 43rd and 45th, respectively.

Sophomore Aleksander Jakobsen of Rock Island, Ill., (21:27, 53rd place) and freshman David Trotter of Indianapolis, Ind., (23:43, 59th place) rounded out the meet for the Saints.

The Saints will travel to Sugar Grove, Ill., next week for the Waubonsee Chief's Invitational, hosted by Waubonsee Community College.