MANCHESTER, N.H. – Freshmen were the top finishers for the Bentley University cross country teams during Saturday's 39th annual Shacklette Invitational at Saint Anselm College.

Sam Capobianco (North Reading/Phillips Andover HS) led the men's team and was fifth overall as he covered the 8,000-meter course in 28:00.1. That put him less than six seconds out of the top three and 18.4 off the winning pace, set by American International College's Jason Beaver.

On the women's side, the Falcons were led by Caitlin Burmester (Willow Grove, Pa./Upper Dublin HS). She ran the 6,000 meters in 25:17.6 and finished 19th overall. Next across the line for the Falcons was classmate Lauren Joseph (Coventry, R.I./Coventry HS), who was 25th in 25:51.5.

Also cracking the top 30 for the Falcon men was senior co-captain Derek Pittorino (Westborough/Westborough HS), whose 29:37.7 put him 28th among 68 competitors.

The women's team was sixth of seven with a score of 173, and the Falcon men were seventh of seven with a 147. Stonehill (35) easily captured the men's championship and Southern New Hampshire edged American International 46-47 for the women's title.

Bentley's next competition is the Paul Short Run in Bethlehem, Pa. Oct. 1.