DETROIT (9/11/2022) -- Not one, not two, not three, but how about eight Titans in the top 10 as the University of Detroit Mercy men's cross country team defended its home event by winning the 35th Annual Running Fit-Detroit Mercy Titan Invitational on Saturday. 

The longest-standing event in school history was held on a cool day at Cass Benton Park in Northville. 

Detroit Mercy had runners two through nine in the 4-mile competition as they posted the immaculate score of 15 to win the race for just the second time in school history joining the 2013 squad that also finished first. 

"It was a good race for us to see where we are at early in the season," said Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Guy Murray '89. "It was great to be back and hosting the event after last year was just a virtual one."

Junior Oscar Hernandez was second overall in 21:52, while graduate senior Oliver Daniel was third in 21:56.

Graduate senior Thomas Mueller was the next in line at 22:02 followed by senior Ryan Schwab at 22:26 for fifth.

Freshman Connor Joyce claimed sixth in his collegiate running 22:29, while senior Michael Greeley was seventh in 22:36. Senior Alexander Petlichkoff finished eighth in 22:44 and junior John Burke closed out the top 10 Titans placing ninth with a time of 22:56. 

The event - which started as a women's only race in 1987 - also featured a pair of open 5k high school races as well as the Tommy Titan kids race.

The day also saw three alums take part in the college race in Ylli Alla, Ryan Leahy and James Murray. A member of the Murray family has now been a part of all 35 races in the event history as Wendy Murray, James and Guy's sister, was part of the Notre Dame team that competed in the first women's race in 1987. 

Detroit Mercy will be back in action next Friday, Sept. 17, as the red, white and blue take part in another tradition in the National Catholic Championships at Notre Dame.