BENNINGTON, Vt. — The Southern Vermont College women's cross country team kicked off the 2015 campaign Saturday, hosting the annual Mountaineer Invitational on the SVC campus.
The Mountaineers ran along the tough, mountain-side course that was smothered in sunshine, temperatures nearing 80 degrees by the end of the race. Southern Vermont saw two runners finish in the top 15 while placing sixth overall as a team.
Junior captain Shelby Whitman (Bennington, Vt.) was the first SVC participant to cross the finish line, completing the challenging 5000 meter course in a time of 23:10; that was good enough for 11th overall and 10th for point-earning runners. Classmate Schyler McGuire (Mechanicville, N.Y.) was next to place for Southern Vermont, coming in at 23:41 for a 14th-place showing overall.
A pair of Mountaineers partook in their first collegiate cross country races, juniors Emily Lesure (Cheshire, Mass.) and Kaylee Cross (Lewis, N.Y.) both setting personal bests during the morning event.
Seniors Emily Freling (Schenevus, N.Y.) and Ashley Perrino (Schenectady, N.Y.) were both honored and recognized after their final race on their home course prior to the awards ceremony.
The Mountaineers are back in action next Saturday, September 12 at the Castleton University Invitational, starting the 5k at 11 a.m.
Southern Vermont
11th – Shelby Whitman: 23:10
14th – Schyler McGuire: 23:41
44th – Emily Freling: 27:56
53rd – Emily Lesure: 29:50 (PR)
64th – Ashley Perrino: 35:39
66th – Kaylee Cross: 36:10 (PR)
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