River Hawks Run to First Ever America East Title

GALLOWAY, N.J. – The UMass Lowell women's cross country team made history on Friday, capturing the program's first ever America East Championship at Seaview Golf Course in Galloway.

The win marks the first America East Conference Championship for any River Hawk women's team since the school elevated to Division I back in 2013-14. The women also combined with the River Hawk men for a UMass Lowell sweep of the 2021 championship event.

"This was truly a total team effort," said Head Coach Gary Gardner. "The women's team has been a slow build. We were one of the worst teams in the conference when we arrived. We owe this to the women who helped us build."

Graduate student Kaley Richards (Lowell, Mass.) paced the River Hawk squad, turning in a time of 17:27.75 to take second place. She was edged by a margin of just seven-tenths of a second by Binghamton's Emily Mackay for the race's top spot. Senior Emily Sessa (Tewksbury, Mass.) completed the 5k in 17:54.85, finishing just behind Richards in third.

Facing harsh wind in their faces for the entire first half of the race, the River Hawks hung onto the pace and clung to the pack. Junior Izzy Giesing (Bradford, Vt.) (18:09.08) and senior Jenna Solimine (Haverhill, Mass.) (18:19.25) rounded out UMass Lowell's top-four finishers, placing sixth and 10^th respectively. Newcomer Mary Yount (Northampton, Mass.) was the fifth River Hawk to cross the line in 18:58.91 to help her team secure the victory.

"Our women positioned themselves well with our top four in the lead pack throughout," explained Gardner. "The top four ran really well, but the key was our fifth. Mary Yount came through big. She passed 30 or so people in the last miles and a half to seal the win."

Richards, Sessa and Giesing each earned America East All-Conference First Team honors. Solimine was named to the All-Conference Second Team, as well.

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Players Mentioned

Izzy Giesing

Kaley Richards

Emily Sessa

Jenna Solimine

Mary Yount

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