HUNT VALLEY, Md.--Junior Faraz Shoai and sophomore Danielle Sgro led the Hood College cross country teams with identical 14th-place team finishes at the season-opening Baltimore Metro Invitational held at a sodden Oregon Ridge Park Saturday.

As he did all of last season, Shoai led the Blazer men with a 22nd-place overall finish. However, much of the day belonged to Hood's freshmen.

Former Walkersville standouts William Andrews and Blake Rust scored 20th and 22nd, respectively, while freshman Blair Ames was 25th. Junior Steve Delaney rounded out the team scoring in 27th.

Freshman Brendan Greenlees, another former Walkersville runner, and fellow newcomer and David McDuffy completed the Hood top seven.

The Hood men scored 108 points to finish fourth in a team competition won by Johns Hopkins. McDaniel took second and Coppin State third.

"We still have a lot of experience to gain, but we are a significantly better team than last year," Hood head coach Brent Ayer said. "As a team, we moved well the first three miles, then stalled. That reflects that we need to get used to the longer college distance.

"As individuals, Faraz is leading based on experience and off-season work. William, Blake and Blair are talented enough to challenge Faraz up front, and I am hoping a second group led by Steve and Brendan can close on them."

In all, nine Blazer men participated in their first collegiate cross country meet. They were Andrews, Rust, Ames, Greenlees, McDuffy, sophomore Tomilayo Komolafe, junior Ryan Jenkins, freshman David Frazier and junior Ben Caplins.

While the men's performances were dominated by freshmen, the Blazer women were led by veterans.

Sgro finished 14th followed by senior Rachel Pectol (33rd), junior April Penn (37th), senior Julia Blickenstaff (40th) and sophomore Katie Thomas (44th). Junior Sara Stiles ran sixth for the Blazers.

The Hood women placed sixth in the team competition, which was won by Towson.

"I thought the women executed very well," Ayer said. "The entire top five moved through about 20 runners from mile one to the finish. There were three NCAA Division I programs out here today and the course was very sloppy. Still, no one panicked and we executed our individual races.

"Danielle beat an All-Capital Athletic Conference performer today. I think you are going to see her turn into one of the better distance runners in this area," Ayer said.

Both Blazer squads return to action Saturday in the McDaniel College Green Terror Challenge in Westminster, Md.