BOSTON -- Lesley's defending NECC Champion men's and women's cross country teams opened 2012 at the Fens Invitational, hosted by Emmanuel College on Saturday.

The men's competition consisted of a 5,000-meter run, in which the Lynx Nick Green took fourth out of 50 with a time of 16:54, good for a five-minute, 57-second mile. Sophomore Evan Reseska came in 14th with a time of 17:27, and freshman Ian Barber followed in 18th at 17:41.

"Today was about competing and finishing strong," said head coach Dan Flynn.

Running in her first college meet, freshman Emilia McGrath finished 11th out of 51 runners with a time of 13:04 on the two-mile course. Fellow first-year Elena Pereira followed in 30th at 14:19.

Only freshmen and sophomores competed on Saturday for the Lynx, but Flynn liked what he saw from a talented crop of young runners. 

"Our freshmen led the way and showed that they are not going to let college racing intimidate them against top competition," he said. "I was impressed with their performance and poise."

Flynn's Lynx are in action again next Saturday at the Trinity Invitational in Manchester, CT.