GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman opened its 2017 Cross Country season Saturday with the Wildcat men finishing 15^th and the women 24^th at the Mountain Dew Invitational hosted by the University of Florida.

Xavier Walton and Daniel Kiptoo finished in the top 30 – at 24^th and 28^th respectively – to highlight Wildcat individual performances in the men's 8K race. Walton, a junior, clocked a 26:19.9 while Kiptoo, also a junior, came in at 26:25.8.

On the women's side, senior Tatyana Hodnett led the way with a 5K time of 21:08, finishing 153^rd.

Other B-CU times and finishes:

MEN
79.  Kaleb Wolfenden  27:51.1
147.  Cameron Berryhill, 29:59.1
183  Deandre Petty, 34:16.8
 
WOMEN
182. Briana Pollock,21:44.4
195. Bernita Brown, 22:09.6
196.  Sade Ritche-Rowley, 22:12.6
217. Paije Johnson, 23:03.5
218  Damaris Jepkorir 23:05.8
 
North Florida won the 32-team men's competition, outlasting Tennessee Tech, 52-83. Gilbert Boit of Tennessee Tech was the men's individual champion in 24:30.9  Host Florida won the women's title 88-148 over runner-up FIU with Eden Meyer of North Florida winning the individual race in 17:09.4.

Bethune-Cookman returns to action October 7 at the Disney Invitational.