Two in Top 10 for Women’s Cross Country in Third-Place Finish at Smith College Invitational
NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (September 9, 2017) – Freshman Marissa Farago (Salisbury, Mass.) led the way for the second straight week for the Franklin Pierce University women's cross country team on Saturday, as she turned in a sixth-place finish in a 95-runner field at the Smith College Cross Country Invitational. The Ravens put two of their runners in the top 10, which helped the team to a third-place finish in the nine-team meet.
"I'm very happy with where they are right now," said head coach Zach Emerson of the team after the meet. He also noted how hard the coaching staff has been pushing the team in practice, hinting at how he sees the performance as even more impressive in light of the stringent workout schedule.
The Ravens finished the meet with 93 points, which left them just 10 behind second-place Westfield State, which finished with 83 points. Amherst (28 points) cruised to the meet title. Behind Franklin Pierce, Saint Anselm (115 points) narrowly edged host Smith (117 points) for fourth place.
Farago's sixth-place finish came courtesy of a 5k time of 20:07.7. She was joined in the top 10 on Saturday by sophomore Rebecca Zylak (Goffstown, N.H.), who finished eighth, with a time of 20:27.2.
Sophomore Julia Cormier (Northwood, N.H.) added another top-20 finish to the ledger for the Ravens, as she placed 19th (21:14.3). Senior Natalie Davies (Ware, Mass.) was just three sports farther back, where she took the 22nd position (21:20.6). Freshman Rebecca Cooke (Nottingham, N.H.) rounded out Franklin Pierce's scoring five at Smith in 44th place (22:25.2).
The Ravens return to action on Saturday, Sept. 16, when they host the Bruce Kirsh Cross Country Cup at Hopkinton State Fairgrounds in Hopkinton, N.H.
For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce cross country apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).