PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – The Hampton University men's and women's cross country teams will open the 2010 season on Saturday morning, as they will compete in the Maryland-Eastern Shore Lid-Lifter Invitational at the UMES Driving Range & Cross Country Course.

The Pirates finished sixth in the team standings of this meet last season, compiling 166 points as the University of Maryland won the team title. The Lady Pirates did not compete in this event in 2009.

Berian White led the Pirates with a 28:27.45 over the 8K course last year, finishing 30th overall. Senior David Kimani (Kenya) is the top returner from last year's meet, where he ran a 29:27.06 to finish 37th. Sophomore Michael Davenport (Pleasantville, N.J.) ran a 29:48.07 to finish 39th past year, while fellow sophomore Xavier Fraction (Sewell, N.J.) finished 41st with a 30:09.43.

Alex Lundy from Maryland posted the top individual time in last year's meet, running a 26:02.41.

The Pirates bring back three runners from a squad that finished sixth in the MEAC last season, while also bringing in five newcomers. Kimani earned All-MEAC honors last season, while Davenport and Fraction will look to provide leadership to what is a young team.

Among the new runners for the Pirates are Kyle Cathion (Washington, D.C.) and local product Brandon Burton, who went to Woodside High School in Newport News, Va.

Five runners return for the Lady Pirates, who finished fourth in the MEAC last season, though MEAC individual champion Jahlisa Smith is not one of them. Senior Jasmin Branch (Hampton, Va.) headlines the returners, coming off All-MEAC honors for the third straight year. Leah Richmond (Long Beach, Calif.) and Adrienne Thomas (Silver Spring, Md.) also competed in the bulk of last season.

Five newcomers grace the Lady Pirates roster, including freshman Cydney Robinson, a native of Portsmouth, Va. who attended Churchland High School. Sophomore Teshika Rivers (Greenbelt, Md.) also comes to Hampton after transferring from Western Kentucky.

This will be the first of three trips that Hampton takes to Princess Anne, Md. this season; the Pirates and Lady Pirates will return to UMES on Sept. 18 for the UMES Cappy Anderson Invitational, and UMES is the site for the 2010 MEAC Cross Country championships, which will be held Oct. 30.

For more information on Hampton University cross country, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.