BRADFORD, Pa. -- Buoyed by gold medals in half (eight) of the meet's 16 events, Notre Dame started their 2009-10 season off by defending their combined team title at the Panther Relays on Saturday. (Results)

The Falcons claimed victory in six women's relays, as well as in one men's and one mixed en route to compiling 264 team points in the relay meet hosted by Pitt-Bradford (Pa.). The win reprises NDC's mixed win at the Panther Relays last season, and it came in a field of five teams. In that same field of five teams, the Notre Dame men's squad placed second, while the Falcon women finished first. 

#Emily Whittington# paced Notre Dame on the day, with a performance that included four gold medals.