SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – On Saturday, the Southern Vermont College women's cross country team returned to Western New England University for the 2013 Golden Bear Invitational, placing 19th and second of the four New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) teams that competed.

Four Mountaineers set season bests, two of them also being personal records. The team was led by freshman Schyler McGuire (Mechanicville, N.Y.) who finished 48th in the 190-runner field with a time of 21:24.94. She was also the first of the 23 NECC participants at the 5K meet.

Sophomore captain Haley Omasta (Danbury, Conn.) came in with her best time of the season, a 21:52.41 finish. Senior Sara Burds (Williston, Vt.) did the same, crossing at 32:37.44 and third for the squad.

Sophomore rookie Ashley Perrino (Rotterdam, N.Y.) beat her personal best by just over a second, finishing at 33:19.12. Freshman Mallory Cano-Scribner (East Montpelier, Vt.) came back from an injury that kept her out a month to cross the line at 34:08.0, 2:15 faster than her first meet.

Endicott College junior Erin Haynes (Oakham, Mass.) won the race with a mark of 19.13.03. Salve Regina University placed first as a team, and Westfield State University and Roger Williams University finished second and third, respectively.

The Mountaineers will use this week to complete preparation for the NECC Championship at Stanley Park in Westfield, Mass. Saturday October 26th, a 5K hosted by Bay Path College.

Team Results

48th McGuire, Schyler - 21:24.94

64th Omasta, Haley - 21:52.41

185th Burds, Sara - 32:37.44

186th Perrino, Ashley - 33:19.12 (PR)

187th Cano-Scribner, Mallory - 34:08.0 (PR)