LEESBURG, Va. – George Mason University's men's cross country team posted a first-place finish and the women's team placed second in the Mason Invitational on Saturday at Oatlands Plantation.

Inclement weather played a factor during the race. Despite the wet conditions on the course, Mason sophomore Ciara Donohue finished first with a time of 22:01.5. Donohue edged a trio of Kent State runners to earn the victory.

As a team, the Mason women finished second overall with 39 total points, slightly behind Kent State.

“It was a little wet and slippery, but I liked the course because it's pretty flat and there were just enough hills to surge over,” Donohue said. “The conditions didn't affect me because I knew everyone was in the same position.”

Junior Amber Hawkins finished fifth overall with a time of 22.34.1, as Mason placed two runners in the top five.

Mason head coach Andrew Gerard was pleased with his team's effort on Saturday.

“We rallied and closed well and it was a tight team score,” Gerard said. “We've put in three weeks of really hard work and I think it will serve as a good springboard for us.”

The Mason men's team finished first overall with 29 total points, edging out Norfolk State. Senior Adam LaFemina finished second overall with a time of 25:11.5 on a slippery, wet course at Oatlands Plantation.

“It was a good race and the main focus was to work together as a team and move up,” LaFemina said. “The conditions didn't really affect me too much, we've trained in the rain and last year it was muddy and rainy. I worked on closing over the last kilometer and it worked out well.”

Also finishing in the top five was Mason junior Luke Sharkey, who finished fourth with a time of 25:19.3.

Last season, the Patriots finished first in both the men's and women's event at the Mason Invitational. This was the third event of the season for the Mason cross country teams and second straight team title for the men. They also finished first at the James Madison Invitational on Sept. 10.

“We'll be able to build on this in the coming weeks,” Gerard said. “I'm pleased overall and we have some things to work on, but it was a good weekend.”

The Patriots will be back in action on Oct. 14, when they race in the Wake Forest Invitational. Mason will then compete in the Atlantic 10 Conference Championships on Oct. 29 in Mechanicsville, Va.