SOUTH HADLEY, MASS. – The Mount Holyoke cross country team will head into 2017-18 under new leadership as first-year head coach Chris Kibler takes the helm. Last season, the Lyons powered their way to five top-10 finishes, including ninth overall at the NEWMAC Championship.

TOP FIVE MOMENTS FROM LAST YEAR

• MHC posted five top-10 finishes a season ago over a span of seven races.
• The Lyons finished second at the UMass-Dartmouth Invitational with three runners placing in the top-20.
• Junior Mia Barnes and sophomore Corrin Moss paced the effort for Mount Holyoke in 2016, each posting a pair of top finishes for the squad.
• Moss placed top-50 in each of her top-team finishes a season ago, including 31st at the Seven Sisters Championship.
• The Lyons had a very strong year academically with six runners named to the NEWMAC Academic All-Conference Team. The recipients were Barnes, juniors Julia Criscione and Kelly Stevens, Moss and classmate Emsie Cronin, along with Brianna Weir '17.

TOP FIVE THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO

• Mount Holyoke will take to the course seven times in 2017, including the season-opener on September 9 at the Smith College Invitational.
• The Lyons return several top finishers from a season ago, including Barnes and Moss – both of whom crossed the line first for MHC in two races.
• Over the last five seasons, the Lyons have seen two runners garner Seven Sisters All-Tournament honors, as well as NEWMAC All-Conference recognition. Additionally, MHC continues to excel in the classroom with 29 runners named to the NEWMAC Academic All-Conference squad since 2012.
• The squad looks to finish strong at the major championships this season. During the 2015 season, the Lyons posted their first-ever runner-up finish at the Seven Sisters Championship, while placing ninth at last year's NEWMAC Meet.
• MHC will be guided by first-year head coach Chris Kibler who previously served as the head cross country and track & field coach at Keystone College for the past two years.