ROCHESTER, N.Y. - SUNY Geneseo first-year Allison Fernandez finished 12th out of 82 runners to lead the Knights to a third-place finish at the Flower City Opener, hosted by the University of Rochester at Genesee Valley Park, Saturday.

"I am very pleased with the efforts and performances from the teams today," said head coach Dan Moore. "In the brutally hot conditions, the athletes did not back down and pushed through. The teams ran in great packs to support and encourage each other. The first-year runners, in their first collegiate race, really put themselves out there and are making a name for themselves. I'm excited for what this season has in store."

The host Yellowjackets scored 30 points to out-distance RIT (35), Geneseo (81), St. John Fisher (104) and Nazareth (122).

Fernandez crossed the 4-kilometer finish line in a time of 15:41.5 while first-year Brooke Madry was close behind in 15th-place (15:48.5) and junior Kelly Flanagan followed in 16th (15:48.7).

First-year Kylee O'Hara captured 21st place (15:54.8), two seconds ahead of first-year Hunter Gowans (15:56.1) who took 24th. Junior Morgan Meaney placed 26th (15:59.1) while senior Shannon Murphy ended up 27th (16:01.1) to round out the Knights' top seven runners.

Geneseo returns to action next Saturday at the Oswego Invitational scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m.