The Alabama women’s cross country team opened its 2019 season with a first-place finish at the Brooks Memphis Twilight Classic on Saturday night. The men’s team finished third.

The women’s team placed first in the 5,000-meter team standings with a score of 47. Seven Alabama runners finished in the top 20 with freshman Allison Wilson leading the way with a third-place finish and a time of 17:52.68. Senior Rebecca Buteau finished in fifth place with a time of 17:53.14.

The other five Alabama runners in the top-20 were sophomore Megan Patton (11th, 18:16.43), seniors Haley Wright (12th, 18:23.34) and Brittany Tolson (18th, 18:38.86), and freshmen Jami Reed (15th, 18:35.73) and Amaris Tyynisma (17th, 18:38.55).

Sophomores Riley Schelp (29^th, 18:59.08), Lauren Brackin (38th, 19:18.82) and Leahrose Mami (40th, 19:22.95), juniors Shannon Marsh (52nd, 19:47.40) and Hannah Howard (54th, 19:49.23), and senior Alexa Cruz (33rd, 19:10.50) round out the Alabama women’s team.

The men’s team placed third overall in the four-mile race team standings behind Ole Miss and team winner Middle Tennessee State. Only seven Alabama runners participated in the race.

Freshman Jacob Wiggers led the way finishing in 13th-place with a time of 20:48.14. A trio of freshman followed behind Wiggers earning top-25 finishes; Grady Shiflet (17th, 21:02.23), Nick Ceci (22nd, 21:22.39) and Rich Saenz (23rd, 21:23.87).

Juniors Scott Platek (35th, 21:35.55) and Paul Selden (46th, 21:57.43) and freshman Alex Mielke (60th, 22:41.01) round out the Alabama men’s runners.

Both Alabama cross country teams will be in action on Saturday, Sept. 7 at the Falcon Classic in Montevallo, Alabama.