Tyrone, PA — How about a half a decade of dominance?

Central Connecticut claimed its fifth NEC Women's Cross Country title in a row and seventh overall following a proverbial photo finish with conference newcomer Stonehill on the 5K course at B & D Acres Farm in Tyrone, PA.

The two teams finished with 47 points apiece, but CCSU was awarded the tiebreaker based on head-to-head comparisons among each team's first five respective finishers.

With the win, the Blue Devils are now just one title away from Quinnipiac's record eight NEC championships.

The individual winner and the NEC Outstanding Performer was LIU's Ainhoa Brea (Llanera, Asturias, Spain/Meres), who crossed the tape with an impressive 20.2 second cushion to shatter the 5K course record. She crossed the tape in 17:31.4 to shave 1:13 off the previous standard. Brea helped the Sharks to a third place team finish with 59 points.

The five-time NEC champions Blue Devils had five runners finish in the top-15 and four who earned All-NEC honors. Ashley Dana (Durham, CT/Coginchaug High School), who won the title in 2020-21 and has now secured three top-five finishers, led the CCSU pack, crushing her previous record (18:44) by 52 seconds in crossing the finish line in 17:51.6 for a second place finish. Following Dana was teammate Brooke Morabito (New Milford, CT/New Milford), who took third in 18:02.6.

In its first NEC meet, Stonehill landed four harriers on the All-NEC team, all of whom finished in the top-11 of the field. Emma Lawrence (Milford, MA/Milford) clocked a fourth-place finish (18:12.8), while freshman Jordan Malloy (Colchester, CT/Bacon Academy) completed the 5K in 18:38.9 and took ninth as the top freshman finisher. The five-time NEC Rookie of the Week honoree claimed NEC Freshman of the Year honors and earned a spot on the All-Conference roster. 

2022 NEC Women's Cross Country Final Results

1. Central Connecticut - 47 points*
2. Stonehill - 47
3. LIU - 59
4. Merrimack - 102
5. Saint Francis U - 119
6. Wagner - 123
7. Sacred Heart - 167
8. St. Francis Brooklyn - 254
9. FDU - 289

* CCSU wins tiebreaker, 3-2

2022 NEC Women's Cross Country All-Conference Team