STONY BROOK, N.Y. — Junior Elyas Ayyoub resumed cross country competition at the same high level at which he left off last season.

Ayyoub finished second at the Stony Brook Season Opener on Saturday with a 6.2K time of 18:49.20.

He finished less than seven seconds behind winner Shane Henderson of the host Seawolves, and amid four Stony Brook runners who finished in the top six.

"I'm not going to lie. I was expecting to win," said Ayyoub, the reigning NEC Scholar-Athlete for cross country. "I went in thinking, 'I did so much work over the summer. I have to win this.' We went out, and the pace was true. I tried to take over the Stony Brook guys on the last lap. It didn't work, and they came with me. They just had a bit more fitness and less fatigue.

"The one guy passed me. I tried to hold on. It was a good race all in all, though. I'm pretty happy with it. Second place, I'm not beating myself up."

Racing without upperclassmen Perry Balsamo and Bryan Villafuerte, the Sharks finished fifth of the five schools competing. Both may return next weekend for the LIU-hosted Fall Festival.

John Schwab was second to cross the line among LIU runners, finishing 49th with a time of 21:24.70.

Freshman Josh Roos (22:13.50), making his collegiate debut, was next to finish among LIU runners.

On the women's side, competing without reigning NEC champion Ainhoa Brea, the Sharks placed sixth of six teams.

Josephine Critchley was LIU's top finisher, crossing 28th overall with a 4K time of 15:14.80.

Lexi Smith finished narrowly behind (33rd overall, 15:22.10).

Both teams host the LIU Fall Festival next Saturday. The races will be streamed on NEC Front Row beginning at 10:45 a.m.