SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Sophomore Mariah McPhee (Bristol) and senior Kelly Labanara (Chaplin) submitted Top 20 finishes in a field of 210 and three additional teammates finished within 17 seconds of each other as the Eastern Connecticut State University women's cross country team grabbed a fifth-place finish among 22 teams Saturday at the Western New England University Golden Bear Invitational.
Freshman Cooper Goslin (South Windsor) paced the men's team to a ninth-place finish among 18 teams, touring the 8,000 meter layout in 28:23 to take 19th place overall in a field of 180. Sophomore Joe Rainville (Montville) followed Goslin closely in 27th place overall in a time of 28:54. Rounding out the team's five scorers were senior Kyle Shaw (Lebanon), senior Michael Dolde (East Hampton) and sophomore Chris Burkle (Guilford). Shaw was timed in 29:39, Dolde 30:43 and 31:47.
McPhee led the Warriors for the fifth straight race, crossing the line at 20:03 over the 5,000 meter course. Labanara, in her second race back from injury, was timed in 20:49. Junior Courtney Magario (Voluntown), sophomore Kelsey Nixon (Ledyard) and freshman Ariel Smith (Stratford) supported the two front-runners by filling in within five spots and 17 seconds. Magario was 34th (21:11), Nixon 38th (21:27) and Smith 39th (21:28).
The meet was the final one for the Warriors prior to the Little East Conference/New England Alliance Championships Nov. 1 at Mount Greylock Regional High School in Williamstown, MA.
