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Smithfield, RI -- With six runners among the top-12 finishers, Sacred Heart secured its third straight NEC Women's Cross Country Championship on Saturday.  The 5K race was hosted by Bryant Unviersity in Smithfield, RI.

CCSU sophomore Brittany Mendelson (Southbury, CT/Pomperaug) dominated the field of 80 runners, crossing the tape in 17:38.4 to finish 26 seconds ahead of the next fastest competitor and set a new course record. She also earned the distinction of NEC Outstanding Performer.

St. Francis Brooklyn freshman Annais Cummiskey (Tenafly, NJ/Tenafly) finished fifth overall and was tabbed NEC Freshman of the Year.

The Pioneers turned in a team score of 34, besting last year’s score of 43. Junior Jennifer Hahne (Madison, CT/Daniel Hand) was the top finisher for the Pioneers sith a second place time of 18:04.8. Following just three seconds behind her was teammate, senior Alexandra Kaeslin (Bethel, CT/Immaculate), who completed the course in 18:07.5. Also recording top-10 finishers for SHU were Molly Barker (Weymouth, MA/Weymouth) and Meghan Hutch (East Taunton, MA/Coyle & Cassidy), who placed eighth and tenth, respectively. Rounding out the top-12 for the Pioneers were Shannon Hickey (South Easton, MA/Oliver Ames) (11th) and Kate Svenson (Medway, MA/Bishop Feehan) (12th).

Central Connecticut finished in second place with a team score of 69 and averaged a 5K time of 18:37. Rounding out the top five was host Bryant, which placed third with 88 points, Saint Francis U with 106 and Fairleigh Dickinson with 173 for fourth and fifth place, respectively.

Wagner finished sixth (182), followed by Robert Morris with 184. Tied for eighth were LIU Brooklyn and St. Francis Brooklyn (212). LIU Brooklyn won the tie breaker with three of its five runners placing ahead of the St. Francis Brooklyn harriers. Mount St. Mary’s completed the ten team field with a score of 242.

St. Francis Brooklyn's Annais Cummiskey (Tenafly, NJ/Tenafly) claimed NEC Freshman of the Year honors, finishing fifth overall with a time of 18:24.1.

1	Mendelson, Brittany	109	Central Connecticut	1	17:38.4	--	5:40.3	3:31.7
2	Hahne, Jennifer	167	Sacred Heart	2	18:04.8	0:26.4	5:48.8	3:36.9
3	Kaeslin, Alexandra	171	Sacred Heart	3	18:07.5	0:29.1	5:49.7	3:37.5
4	Bell, Nicole	215	Wagner	4	18:19.9	0:41.5	5:53.7	3:40.0
5	Cummiskey, Annais	209	St. Francis Brooklyn	5	18:24.1	0:45.7	5:55.0	3:40.8
6	Wilmonton, Elizabeth	101	Bryant	6	18:25.0	0:46.6	5:55.3	3:41.0
7	Lieberman , Mara	107	Central Connecticut	7	18:25.5	0:47.1	5:55.5	3:41.1
8	Barker, Molly	154	Sacred Heart	8	18:25.8	0:47.4	5:55.5	3:41.2
9	Svensen, Erin	97	Bryant	9	18:28.2	0:49.8	5:56.3	3:41.6
10	Hutch, Meghan	169	Sacred Heart	10	18:28.4	0:50.0	5:56.4	3:41.7
11	Hickey, Shannon	168	Sacred Heart	11	18:29.8	0:51.4	5:56.8	3:41.9
12	Svensen, Kate	188	Sacred Heart	12	18:31.6	0:53.2	5:57.4	3:42.3
13	Kiebler, Morgan	200	Saint Francis U	13	18:33.9	0:55.5	5:58.1	3:42.8
14	Barber, Angela	192	Saint Francis U	14	18:34.2	0:55.8	5:58.2	3:42.8

       
NEC Outstanding Performer: Brittany Mendelson, CCSU