The X-Women and X-Men cross country teams opened up the AUS competitive season this past Saturday in Fredericton at the UNB-St. Thomas Open meet.

With a first-place effort from veteran Melissa Hardy, the StFX X-Women garnered second place in the opening race of the 2013 AUS season.

Hardy broke the tape in 19:05 at the 5k UNB-St. Thomas Open Saturday in Fredericton.

Alexa Zarins, 19:49, raced to fourth for the blue and white, while Lynette Manuel (20:18, tenth), also cracked the top-ten on the day.

Liz O'Connell (20:28) followed Manuel in 11th position.

The trio of Ginny Anderson (21:02), Alyson Woods (21:06) and Kathryn Tuck (21:12) finished 15th to 17th, respectively.

Ellen Burnett (21:30) and Heidi MacDonald (21:55) also competed for the X-Women.

StFX, with 41 points, trailed only Dalhousie (26) in the team competition. Host UNB (70) wrapped up the top-three finishers.

In men's action, with seven of the top-ten finishers, the X-Men cross country team raced to a first-place finish in the UNB-St. Thomas Open.

Scott Donald clocked a 26:08 in the 8k event, which placed him in second behind race winner John Kuto of Saint Mary's (26:01).

With identical 26:47 times, Nick Favero and Riley Johnston finished fourth and fifth, respectively, for the X-Men.

Following that blue-and-white tandem, Alex Neuffer (27:06) and Stephen Deering (27:14) crossed the finish line in sixth and seventh positions, respectively.

X-Men Ryan Hatchard (27:32) and Cal Dewolfe (27:36) wrapped up the top-ten.

Gabe Quenneville (27:44), Stuart MacPherson (28:33) and Brandon MacDonald (28:37) also took the course for the X-Men.

StFX, with 24 points, Dalhousie (71) and host UNB (78) finished top-three in the team competition.

The X-Women and X-Men return action Saturday, Sept. 21 when they host their annual invitational on the StFX campus. Race time is 12 p.m. for the women's race followed by the men's race at 12:45 p.m.