ADRIAN, Mich. -- The 20th-ranked Siena Heights men's cross country team opened its 2011 season with a second-place finish at Adrian College's Bulldog Invitational.
Running the 5K race in brutal heat, high grass, and a rough course, the Saints scored 33 points and finished behind only Spring Arbor (28), who also received votes in the preseason NAIA rankings.
Siena Heights saw five runners finish in the top 11, and seven runners finish in the top 20. David Weeks (Eaton Rapids, Mich./Eaton Rapids) was the top runner for the Saints finishing second place overall with a time of 16:20. He was followed by Zack Widner, who finished third in 16:23.
Justin Bateson (Blissfield, Mich./Blissfield) took eighth in 16:49 and Mark Haukereid (Bridgeman, Mich./Bridgeman) was ninth in 16:58.
Jesiah Rodriguez (Erie, Mich./Mason Consolidated), typically the Saints' top runner, battled through heat sickness to take 11th in a time of 17:00. Kyle Smith (Shelby Township, Mich./De La Salle) came in 16th in 17:12 and Sabin Enerson (Hudson, Mich./Hudson) was 20th in 17:46.
The Saints finished ahead of Adrian (65) and Olivet (115).
Siena Heights will compete next at Notre Dame's National Catholic Meet in South Bend, Ind. That race will take place on Sept. 16.