XC Races at Saints Invitational

BOSTON -- In their final tune-up before the upcoming conference meet, the Mitchell College men's and women's cross country teams competed at the Saints Invitational on Friday afternoon at Franklin Park.

Over 400 runners represented 24 colleges and universities, with 22 women's teams competing in the 5k and 22 men's teams in the 8k event. The Mitchell men's team placed 21st overall while the women's squad finished 18th. Wentworth Institute of Technology won the men's race while Emmanuel College finished first in the women's event.

Fitchburg State University's Nicole Gaffney earned the women's individual champion honors with a first-place time of 19:58 to pace the women's field of 201 runners. On the men's side, Fitchburg State's Jack Hastings crossed the line in 26:31 for the individual win. Junior Axel De Jesus paced the Mitchell men with a time of 34:51.33 while Kate McCormack led the women's team at 24:21.

The Mariners will next compete at the New England Collegiate Conference Championship on October 31 at Stanley Park in Westfield, Mass.