WESTFIELD, Mass. – Competing at the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Championship Saturday afternoon, the Southern Vermont College women's cross country team finished fifth in the 5K race hosted by Bay Path College at Stanley Park.

Mountaineer freshman Schyler McGuire (Mechanicville, N.Y.) made her way to the All-NECC First Team with a fifth-place finish and time of 21:00.29 while sophomore captain Haley Omasta (Danbury, Conn.) took to the All-NECC Second Team for the second-straight year, finishing ninth with a time of 21:45.87.

Sophomore Ashley Perrino (Rotterdam, N.Y.) crossed third for SVC, finishing at 29:33.76, just under four minutes faster than her previous personal record. Junior Shante Ramires (Freehold, N.J.) was able to come off injury and participate in her first race of the season, finishing at 30:11.55. Senior Sara Burds (Williston, Vt.) also set a personal best with a time of 31:01.35 to round out the Mountaineer top five; that was 33 seconds faster than her previous record.

Lesley University brings the NECC championship cup back to the Lynx campus, winning its sixth consecutive conference title with the help of senior Leah Miller (Thomaston, Conn.) who crossed the finish line one minute and 32 seconds ahead of the next closest competitor to take the Runner of the Year claim. Regis College freshman Siobhan McLaughlin (Derry, N.H.) claimed the NECC Rookie of the Year honor with a third-place showing of 20:26.29. Elms College and Regis, in its inaugural season, finished second and third as a team, respectively.

A few of Coach K's runners will now start to train for the 6K NCAA Regional on November 16 at the University of Southern Maine in Cumberland.

Team Results/Times
5th - McGuire, Schyler   21:00.29
9th - Omasta, Haley   21:45.87
44th - Perrino, Ashley   29:33.76 (PR)
48th - Ramires, Shante   30:11.55
49th - Burds, Sara   31:01.35 (PR)

 

Complete NECC Awards
Women's Runner of the Year 
Leah Miller, Lesley
Women's Rookie of the Year
Siobhan McLaughlin, Regis
Women's Coach of the Year
Matt Dyer, Elms College
Women's Team Sportsmanship
Elms College

Women's All-Conference First Team
Leah Miller, Lesley
Ana Lutkevich, Lesley
Siobhan McLaughlin, Regis
Jackie Rosa, Lesley
Schyler McGuire, Southern Vermont*

Women's All-Conference Second Team
Devon DeGrazia, Elms 
Kat Vicino, Lesley
Elena Pereira, Lesley
Haley Omasta, Southern Vermont*
Sheilah Newcity, Mitchell