By Rob Schabert, TTU Sports Information Director

View the complete WCU Invitational results (PDF)

CULLOWHEE, N.C. -- The veterans led the way Friday afternoon for the Tennessee Tech women's cross country team as the Golden Eagles opened the 2013 season with an eighth place finish at the Western Carolina Invitational.

Tech's first five finishers were the teams five seniors, paced by Rebecca Cline in 29th place and Meghan O'Donoghue in 49th. Cline ran the two-mile circuit in 12:10.43 to pace the squad, while O'Donoghue posted a time of 12:28.09.

Six spots back, Yeshi Dohrman finished 55th in 12:37.69, followed by Peri Winborne in 62nd place with a time of 12:49.20. The high five for coach Tony Cox also included Amelia McCoy in 68th place with a time of 13:14.85.

"It was pretty warm out here today," Cox said. "We've been training all summer, but it hasn't been all that hot this summer. Today's weather was hotter than we've been training in, and it was a tough day."

The cross country course wound from the WCU track out onto a large field on campus that is usually used as a driving range and a disc golf layout. The route wound through the field, around the WCU track stadium, and back to the field before finishing up on the track inside the stadium.

The University of Florida gave a clinic in the heat posting a perfect score of 15 with the top five finishers in the field of 104 runners.

Following the Gator women, Furman placed second with 53 points, followed by High Point (81), UNC Asheville (133), Western Carolina (149), Winthrop (175), Wofford (179), Tennessee Tech (220), Brenau Univerity (267), Gardner-Webb (299), North Carolina A&T (326) and Warren Wilson College (356).

The Golden Eagles will have next weekend off before returning to action on Saturday, Sept. 14, at the Vanderbilt Invitational.

Tennessee Tech finsihes at the WCU Invitational:

29 Cline, Rebecca SR Tennessee Tech 6:05.3 12:10.43
49 O'Donoghue, Meghan SR Tennessee Tech 6:14.1 12:28.09
55 Dohrmann, Yeshi SR Tennessee Tech 6:18.9 12:37.69
62 Winborne, Peri SR Tennessee Tech 6:24.6 12:49.20
68 McCoy, Amelia SR Tennessee Tech 6:37.5 13:14.85
73 Cashin, Claire FR Tennessee Tech 6:44.8 13:29.54
80 Loving, Landry SO Tennessee Tech 6:59.8 13:59.52
87 Wilson, Sarah SO Tennessee Tech 7:08.4 14:16.77
92 Mitchell, Elizabeth JR Tennessee Tech 7:21.2 14:42.37

Red, White and Blue Runners