PITTSBURGH - Megan Aller (New Kensington, Pa. / Kiski Area) crossed the finish line first to lead the Duquesne women's cross country team to victory to open the 2019 season at the Duquesne Duals in Schenley Park.

The Dukes tallied a score of 19 points followed by Carnegie Mellon second with 41 points and Youngstown State third with 81.

Aller toured the 5K course in 18:31.40 to pace five Duquesne runners in the top six of the event. Rachel Valotta (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Plum) finished third at 19:03.22, Tori Kocsis (Johnstown, Pa. / Richland)  fourth at 19:07.06, Morgan Perkins (Erie, Pa. / Mercyhurst Prep) fifth at 19:09.53 and Ava Pietrzyk (Pittsburgh, Pa. / North Hills) sixth at 19:09.79.

Duquesne is back in action on Friday, Sept. 13 at the George Mason Invitational at the Oatlands Plantation - the site of the 2019 Atlantic 10 Championship in Leesburg, Va.