Carlisle, Pa.- Penn State Harrisburg's cross country season kicked off last night at the Light up the Night Invitational held by Dickinson College.

The men's team placed seventh overall with a team score of 179. The Dickinson led the pack winning the event as Messiah and Gettysburg rounded out the top three. The Harrisburg's Derrick Allabaugh (Wyalusing, Pa/ Northeast Bradford) placed the highest out of any Penn State Harrisburg runner with a time of 18:36. His teammate, Korey Christian (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y. / Walter Panas) also placed well with a time of 19:36.

Head Coach Danielle Lynch had this to say about the team's performance, "Our men represented well for our season opener. Freshman Derrick Allabaugh led our pack of men who are predominately newcomers."

The Penn State Harrisburg women's cross country team also placed seventh in the race with a total score of 204. Similar to the men's Race, Dickinson took top honors while Messiah and Gettysburg rounded out the top three. Penn State Harrisburg's top female runners were Ashley Peart (West Oragne N.J./ West Orange) with a respectable time of 23:14. Teammates Rachel Sechrist (Allentown, Pa./Salisbury), Kaitlin Gould (Camp Hill, Pa./Cedar Cliff), and Kyla Line (Harrisburg, Pa./ Bishop McDevitt) also finished with respectable times.

"Our ladies were triumphant in their goals for our very competitive and HOT season opener." Said Coach Lynch, "The heat race time was about 85 degrees but we made it through with some nice performances and finished as a team. Top finisher for PSU HBG and freshman Ashley (Inayah) Peart led our pack with the fastest 5K in my tenure. All together I am proud of our ladies efforts as we continue to grow as a program." 

Both the men and women return to competition on Saturday September 5 at Lebanon Valley College for the Dutchmen Invitational. The race begins at 11 for the men and 10:15 for the women.