LINCOLN, R.I. – Freshman Samantha McKosky (Deep River) paced the women's team and sophomore Cooper Goslin (South Windsor) paced the men's team for Eastern Connecticut State University at the Tri-State Invitational Cross Country Championships, hosted by the Community College of Rhode Island.
With the teams competing following a two-week layoff, McKosky led the women for the third straight race, placing third overall in a field of 101 over 5,000 meters to help lift the Warriors to fourth place in a field of ten full squads. Goslin was tenth among 103 finishers in a time of 28:18 over 8,000 meters in leading the men's team to a solid fifth-place finish among 12 competing institutions.
Twelve runners finished the face for the women's team, with juniors Mariah McPhee (Bristol) and Sofia Amaral (New Milford) checking in among the Top 25, and sophomore Ariel Smith (Stratford) right behind at No. 26. McPhee was 18th in a time of 21:08, Amaral 25th in a time of 21:32 and Smith was clocked in 21:42.
Rounding out the Eastern women's five scorers was senior Kelsey Nixon (Ledyard), who was 36th overall at 22:07.
McKosky was the only freshman to place among the top 17 runners, earning a medal in the process. She finished just four seconds behind runner-up Shannon Holden, a senior from Salve Regina University.
For the men, who are battling injury and illness, Goslin averaged a 5:41 mile in nailing down the No. 10 spot overall and earning a medal, as the Warriors fell just two points shy of fourth place. First-year sophomore Ryan Jones (Suffield) and sophomore Noah Hallisey (East Lyme) both came in among the Top 25, Jones at No. 19 in a time of 29:01 and Hallisey 25th at 29:18. The Warriors placed their five scoring runners among the Top 32, with senior Taylor Flynn (Old Saybrook) and senior Steven LaFlamme (Moosup) crossing the finish line at No. 31 (29:50) and No. 32 (29:53), respectively.
While both the men and women's performances were below those of a year ago at the Tri-State Championships, both squads continue to work toward peaking for post-season competition, which kicks off in a month with the Little East Conference Championships at Keene, NH and at the New England Championships Nov. 14.
Eastern returns to action Oct. 17 at the Connecticut College Invitational at Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford.
Tri-State Invitational Cross Country Championships
at CC of Rhode Island, Lincoln, RI
Men's Results
Run over 8,000 meters
EASTERN FINISHERS
10. Cooper Goslin 28:18; 19. Ryan Jones 29:01; 31. Taylor Flynn 29:50; 32. Steven LaFlamme 29:53; 36. Chris Armstrong 30:05; 45. Mike Underwood 30:51; 65. Chris Burkle 32:41; 70. Joe Rainville 33:32.
Women's Results
Run over 5,000 meters
EASTERN FINISHERS
3. Samantha McKosky 20:05; 18. Mariah McPhee 21:08; 25. Sofia Amaral 21:32; 26. Ariel Smith 21:42; 36. Kelsey Nixon 22:07; 40. Haley Knox 22:21; 43. Evalin Brautigam 22:28; 48. Kassandrah Banks 22:43; 50. Christina Gosselin 22:46; 64. Amy Carmellini 23:47; 72. Olivia Grella 24:29; 78. Rachel Mezzoni 24:58
