MANCHESTER, N.H. – Returning to his home state, junior Cody Murphy (Dunbarton, N.H./Goffstown HS) was the top finisher for the Bentley University men's cross country team Saturday in the season-opening Shacklette Invitational at Saint Anselm College.

Murphy covered the five-mile course in 27:15, good for seventh place overall and 27 seconds off the winning pace posted by Stonehill College senior Sam Bradford. The Skyhawks had the top three finishers with freshman Kevin Wheelock matching Bradford's time and senior Alex Southiere third in 27:04.

Senior Seamus Higgins (Randolph, N.J./Randolph HS) was next across the line for Bentley as he finished 11th in 27:31.  Freshman Nick McGee (Wakefield, Mass./ Wakefield HS), sophomore Ben Edwards (Morristown, N.J./Morristown HS) and junior Dan Hergott (Wallingford, Conn./Xavier HS) completed the Falcons' top five, crossing consecutively in 20th, 21st and 22nd. A total of 65 runners participated.

With a score of 84 points, Bentley finished fourth among seven squads. Stonehill placed five in the top ten for a winning tally, 24, and both Merrimack College (45) and Assumption College (66) also finished ahead of the Falcons.

Bentley will also be in New Hampshire Sept. 16 for the Bruce Kirsh Cup at the State Fairgrounds in Hopkinton.