Results

BETHLEHEM, Penn. – The UMass Lowell women's cross country team showed signs of progress on the Goodman Campus Cross Country Course, Saturday, in the 6k at the 45th Paul Short Run hosted by Lehigh University.

The River Hawks accumulated 692-points (54, 83, 155, 192, 208 -224, 227).  The total was good for 27th place in a field of 41 who competed in the premier women's race.  Yale won the event with 118-points (4, 13, 21, 24,56 - 101, 102).  Georgia was second and Utah State finished third.  UMass Lowell was the second of four America East school in the "Gold" race.  Vermont finished 22nd.

"This was a step up from last week," according to UMass Lowell Head Coach Gary Gardner.  "Our top four or five runners ran better than last week and we ran much better as a team.  We made progress, we took a step forward.  We also took a step toward becoming more consistent"

The event claims to be the largest intercollegiate cross country meet in the nation.  There are a series of open, college and high school races.  In all the Paul Short Run attracts some 6,000 runners and 450 colleges, high schools and athletic clubs. 

Junior Kaley Richards (Lowell, Mass.) continues to establish herself as one of the leaders of the women's team.  Richards was the top River Hawk finisher hitting the finish line in a time of 21-minutes, 47-seconds.  The time was her best at the distance.

"She's a hard worker and she's been real consistent," said Gardner.

Senior Allie Morris (Walpole, Mass.) was the second UMass Lowell scorer.  Morris hit the finish line in a time of 22:05.  It was good for 83rd among scoring runners in a field of more than 360 competitors.

"That was her best race in a couple of years," according to Gardner.  "It was a big step up from last week, now it's a matter of becoming consistent."

Senior Katherine Murray (Woburn, Mass.) also turned in a personal best for the distance.  She posted a time of 22:33 to finish 155th.

Sophomores Jenna Solimine (Haverhill, Mass.) Emily Sessa (Tewksbury, Mass.) wrapped up the River Hawk scoring.  They finished in spots 192 and 208 with times of 22:55 and 23:09 respectively.

The sounded a bit philosophical at the day's end.

"Eight of the nine America East schools were here," said Gardner.  "We lost to just one of them, I'll take it as a win."

The UMass Lowell cross country teams will be closer to home and on familiar turf next weekend.  They will compete in the New England Championships Saturday in Franklin Park in Boston.  The women will follow that up with a trip to the Princeton Invitational on October 12th.