The Francis Scott Key boys cross country team made a statement, even if it didn't win.

Taking advantage of a field depleted by bans imposed on some area schools because of the recent sniper shootings, the Eagles finished a surprising third in the Westminster Invitational at McDaniel College yesterday.

Although Urbana and Loch Raven finished 1-2 with 47 and 87 points, respectively, Francis Scott Key's 99 points were good enough to propel the Class 2A school past Carroll County powerhouse and No. 5 Westminster (fourth with 110 points).

"We're continuing a string of near misses, but we're running very well," said Eagles coach Dan Replogle, whose squad placed fourth in the small-schools race in the Bull Run meet and second in the Don Stoner Invitational last weekend.

Urbana also won the girls competition, placing five runners in the top 12 for 25 points.

Westminster finished second with 72 points, while North Carroll was third with 87.

The invitational lost several ranked teams - including the No. 1 C. Milton Wright, No. 4 Mount Hebron and No. 7 Bel Air boys, and the No. 2 Wright and No. 3 Mount Hebron girls - when their school districts canceled all athletic events.