ORONO – Even though both the University of Maine men’s and women’s cross country teams ran without their top runners in Donny Drake and Hana Pelletier, the Black Bears had a successful opening meet against archrival New Hampshire.

The men, who were picked second in the America East preseason poll, won by a score of 24 points to 32 while the Wildcats captured the women’s meet, 20 points to 51.

UMaine coach Mark Lech said that he will use Pelletier sparingly this fall.

“I’m going to try and minimize the number of races she runs in cross country this year,” Lech said. “Indoor and outdoor [track], those are her main seasons,” Lech added, referring to the fact that Pelletier’s strengths are the middle distance races.

UM freshman Jessica Belliveau of Quispamsis, New Brunswick, led wire-to-wire to win the women’s race in 18 minutes, 14 seconds over 5,000 meters while Black Bear senior Kirby Davis, the defending America East individual champ, took the men’s 8,000-meter race in 25:23.

Lech’s women’s team is young with nine freshmen, and the Wildcats showed why they were picked second in the conference preseason poll.

Kim Povec, Ashley Vance, Rebecca Haley, Tricia Rozeboom, and Nicole Whalen went 2-3-4-5-6 for New Hampshire.

“They always do a good job, they get a plethora of young ladies every year,” Lech said. “I don’t think you can help it; they just come through [UNH coach Robert Hoppler’s] door all the time, and he says yeah, come on in.”

One freshman Lech was impressed with was Jolene Belanger of Glenburn, who was the Black Bears’ third runner in 19:41.

“Jolene ran well, I think, for her first race. I was happy,” Lech said.

Shelby Howe of Columbia was UM’s second finisher while Laura Brustolon, Teig Choroszy, Amy Brooks, and Courtney Hamer rounded out the Bears’ top seven.

The men’s race featured an early season duel between the teams selected 1-2 in America East.

Lech, however, instructed his crew to use more conservative tactics.

“I told them to go out fairly conservatively,” he said. “Any time you lace ’em up in a race, there’s that little extra adrenaline [rush] that happens. I think they were pretty much well within themselves today.”

Two of Lech’s freshmen had decent collegiate debuts as Miles Bartlett of Casco (26:20) and Chris Harmon of Scarborough (26:29) finished 11th and 12th overall and fourth and fifth on the Black Bears.

“He just has to feel a little bit more mentally comfortable, then I think he’ll be all set,” Lech said.

Lech held senior Drake out of the race so he’ll be fresher come championship time.

“I’d rather have him for the end of the season than in the beginning,” the coach said. “I don’t want to race him too many times.”

Drake had a successful racing summer, including winning the Maine men’s division of the Beach to Beacon 10K in August.

Josh Trevino took second for Maine in 25:33 while Jon McGonagle was fifth in 26:11. Rounding out the Bears’ top seven were Eric Newman in 22nd and Travis Vicary in 25th.

Lech added that Brendan Carr, a freshman from Brewer, is redshirting this cross country season.

“He’s had so many things go on with him,” Lech said, referring to the fact that Carr had some troubles with shin splints throughout his high school career. “His body is physically young. Once it gets stronger and matures a bit, then I think he’ll be good.”