URBANA - Led by Aaron Werths, the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville men's cross country team opened the 2010 season with a fourth-place finish at the Illini Challenge.

Werths (Granite City) turned in the top time for the Cougars at 20:13, which was good enough for 25th place out of 52 runners.

SIUE finished with 116 points, 22 ahead of fifth-place finisher Danville Area Community College while the host University of Illinois claimed the title for the sixth consecutive time with four of the top five finishers for 19 points.

Also finishing the 6,000 meter course for the Cougars were Brad Walwer (20:36), Shawn Dillard (20:39), Marc Amarillas (20:54), Campbell Walters (20:57), and J.D. Wynn (21:19).

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