HOPKINTON, N.H. – Sophomore Georgia Brooks (Groton, Mass.) finished in fifth place in the 5k race, earning a top-five position, as the UMass Lowell women's cross country team placed fifth overall at the 2025 America East Cross Country Championship on Friday afternoon at Hopkinton State Fairgrounds in Hopkinton, Mass.  

Maine took the victory with 49 points, followed by Bryant with 51 points. Binghamton took third place with 71 points, Vermont was fourth with 115 points, and UMass Lowell claimed fifth with a total of 131 points. 

"Georgia ran the best race of her career, and I was very impressed with her race today," said Head Coach Gary Gardner. "She looked strong throughout the race. Sarah struggled for the first time this season, which was unfortunate timing. I'm sure she will bounce back for the NCAA regional meet. She has been the backbone of the women's team this season. The rest of the team was solid, and some inexperience showed, but it will make us a better team in the future."

Brooks led the UMass Lowell runners, earning fifth after clocking in at a time of 17:41.09 and picking up All-Conference First Team honors. Graduate student Delaney Swanson (Swanzey, N.H.) followed, placing 22nd after crossing the line at a 18:30.74 mark.

Freshman Anna Fondakowski was not far behind, earning 32nd place with a time of 18:43.80, while graduate student Sarah Ross (Agawam, Mass.) finished in 34th place at 18:45.26. 

Next, freshman Gracie Richard (Weymouth, Mass.) crossed the finish line at 18:50.67, claiming 40th place, as senior Miana Caraballo (Methuen, Mass.) was close in 42nd place with a time of 18:54.52, while sophomore Salma Boukhtam (Quincy, Mass.) was the final scorer for UMass Lowell in 50th place at a 19:07.60 mark.

Sophomore Lauren Long (Lunenburg, Mass.), senior Mia Jones (Blacksburg, Va.), and freshman Krista Bettez (Gardner, Mass.) rounded out the River Hawk runners, finishing in 51st,  56th, and 66th place, respectively. Long clocked in at 19:11.11, Jones recorded a time of 19:20.42, and Bettez finished at 19:55.87. 

The team will now focus on the 2025 NCAA Cross Country Northeast Regional, taking place on Friday, November 14, at the Hopkinton State Fairgrounds in Hopkinton, N.H.