Cross Country Takes Fifth at Smith Invitational

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (Sept. 12, 2009) – The Mount Holyoke College women’s cross country team got its 2009 season underway with a fifth place showing at the Smith College Invitational this morning. A total of ten teams and 128 individuals took part in the event.

Leading the way with 38 points was Wellesley College. The Blue were followed in the final team standings by the Coast Guard Academy (59), Smith (60) and Westfield State College (64). Mount Holyoke totaled 140 points and finished in front of Clark University (181), the Norwich Academy (221), the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (231), Saint Joseph College (278) and New England College (286).

Smith senior Anna Cressotti completed the 5,000 meter course in 19:43.98 to secure first place in the individual competition. Westfield State senior Kerry Arouca (20:00.87) and Wellesley first year Camille Basurto (20:09.46) rounded out the top three.

The Lyons were paced by junior Rebecca Engell, who grabbed 20th place overall with a time of 21:47.59. First year Julia Merton and sophomore Emily Follo secured the 29th (22:11.31) and 31st (22:14.08) spots, respectively. Meanwhile, junior Hannah DiCocco chipped in with a 34th place (22:25.53) result.

Mount Holyoke will return to action next Saturday at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Invitational. The competition will begin with a sub-varsity race at 10:30 a.m. and conclude with a varsity race at 11:15 a.m.