Finn Takes First at the America East Cross Country Championships

Friday, October 30

Albany, NY

University of Massachusetts Lowell

America East Cross Country Championships

10/30/2026 3:50:00 PM | Women's Cross Country/Track & Field

Head Coach Gary Gardner Press Conference

ALBANY, N.Y. – Graduate student Mary-Kate Finn (Nashua, N.H.) won the individual title at the America East Cross Country Championships, finishing the 5k with a time of 17:05.7. As a squad, the UMass Lowell women's cross country team finished third, with eight runners logging personal bests.

"MK ran fantastic," said Head Coach Gary Gardner. "We showed a little bit of inexperience, but the team fought."

Finn led the team's America East All-Conference honorees, as the top 14 finishers were named to the team. She earned a First Team selection as she became just the third runner in conference history to win the individual championship three times. Junior Georgia Brooks (Groton, Mass.) snagged a Second Team selection, finishing 10th overall.

On a windy morning at UAlbany, the women kicked things off with the 5k. Finn led the conference, and Brooks clocked in at 17:43.4.

Finishing in 24th place overall and setting a personal best was freshman Paige McInerney (Acton, Mass.). She ran the 5k in 18:13.6. Sophomore Anna Fondakowski (Nashua, N.H.) also set a personal best, finishing in 33rd place with a time of 18:25.4.

Junior Salma Boukhtam (Quincy, Mass.) rounded out the River Hawks' top five with a personal-best time of 18:27.2 putting her in 35th. Just behind Boukhtam was graduate student Kylie Marion (Baldwinville, Mass.), who also set a PR at 18:28.2.

A clump of River Hawks finished in 46th, 48th and 50th place. Sophomore Gracie Richard (Weymouth, Mass.) led the group, setting a PR at 18:40.9. Freshman Maddie McGillicuddy (Quincy, Mass.) crossed the line at 18:42.9, and junior Lauren Long (Lunenburg, Mass.) set the team's sixth personal best at 18:43.3.

Juniors Selena Wood (Abington, Mass.) and Haley Evans (Glastonbury, Conn.) rounded out the lineup. The duo set two more PRs, finishing at 18:56.9 and 19:08.8.

Up next, UMass Lowell begins prep for another postseason meet in the Empire State. The NCAA Northeast Regionals, hosted by Hofstra, are set for Friday, November 13 in Bethpage, N.Y.