FREDERICK, Md.--The Hood College women's cross country team swept the first four places at its home invitational Saturday, led by senior captain Kelly Buriak.

Buriak's winning time of 20:42 broke the meet record of 20:51.25 set last year by Brittany Strite of Hagerstown Community Community College. Five teams participated in the meet.

Following closely on Buriak's heals, as she has all season, was freshman Danielle Sgro, who placed second in 21:03.

In third was another freshman, Kyleigh Reynolds (21:39). Senior captain Rachel Collmus nailed down fourth place (21:51), narrowly missing a personal best on the rain-slicked, sloppy course.

Mary Baldwin College picked up the next three places, followed by Villa Julie College's first runner.

Junior Rachel Pectol completed the Hood scoring with a ninth-place finish and sophomore April Penn was tenth.

The 1-2-3-4 sweep propelled Hood to the team title with 19 points. Mary Baldwin (43), Villa Julie (79), North Carolina Wesleyan College (103) and the University of the District of Columbia (incomplete) rounded out the team competition.

The men competed in a dual meet against UDC, which fielded an incomplete men's squad.

Once again, sophomore Faraz Shoai led the men, winning the race in 18:40.

Sophomore Steve Delaney was the next Hood finisher in fifth place, followed by senior captain Robert Mitchell in sixth.

Freshmen Bryan Lentz and Kevin Worley rounded out the Hood top five in seventh and eighth place, respectively.

"After two weeks of being relatively flat, I thought we performed well," said head coach Brent Ayer. "Our top four women ran within 70 seconds of one another. Over the next two and half weeks, we need to find a way to get Rachel (Pectol) and April to close the gap on the top four. If we can do that, we will be able to meet our goal of finishing in the top 20 of our 50-team regional. Our men are significantly better than last year."

The meet brought together five schools that started cross country within the last three years, when Hood's program was first established.

"I feel very good about where our program is in relation to others who started at the same time," Ayers added. "Our numbers are good, the team is demonstrating patience and discipline and the quality is coming around.

The meet marked the final home appearances of seniors Kelly Buriak, Rachel Collmus and Robert Mitchell.

"I can't thank those three enough," Ayer said. "All were here before I arrived and helped establish this program. They have worked hard and improved significantly. The runners that follow will owe them a debt of gratitude for getting us off the ground."