ALBANY, Ga.  — Florida A&M senior Tara Bert led wire-to-wire Saturday morning, claiming the individual title at the Willie Laster Cross Country Invitational with a time of 19 minutes, 0.50 seconds.

Bert's victory gave the Rattlers set the tone for a day that featured standout performances across the roster.

Junior Jillian Salmon joined Bert in the top 10, finishing ninth in 21:59.60. Florida A&M also placed three additional runners in the top 35, with sophomore Kristian Prather clocking 23:01.60 for 18th, junior Alesia Douglas in 19th at 23:12.00 and junior Tamijah Scriven 31st in 24:40.40.

The Rattlers' depth was on display, as the team placed five runners inside the top 35 in a crowded field of more than 80 competitors.

The invitational, named in honor of longtime coach Willie Laster, annually draws programs from across the Southeast and serves as an early-season measuring stick for conference and regional competition.