Brookville, NY -- After narrowly missing out on winning it all in their NEC women's cross country debut last year, Stonehill left no room for doubt this afternoon, achieving a historic victory for the program.

Not only did the Skyhawks raise their first-ever NEC cross country trophy, but they also secured Stonehill's inaugural conference championship in any sport, marking a significant milestone for the college, now in its second year as a member of the league.

Stonehill, which earned runner-up status last season in a meet that came down to a tiebreaker with CCSU, took first place in a tightly contested race on LIU's Brookville campus, finishing the 5K race with 61 points. The Skyhawks enjoyed a six-point cushion over the second place Blue Devils (67), who saw their five-year title reign come to an end.

NEC Outstanding Performer and individual winner Ava Mahoney (Marblehead, MA/Bishop Fenwick) finished seven seconds ahead of the field, crossing the tape in 18:28.70. Mahoney, who took fifth at last year's meet, helped Merrimack to a sixth place team finish. 

Junior Emma Lawrence (Milford, MA/Milford) paced Stonehill, clocking in at 18:47.10 for a fourth place showing. Last year's NEC Freshman of the Year Jordan Malloy (Colchester, CT/Bacon Academy) placed ninth with a time of 19:08.90 and rookie Kellie Harrington (Pittsfield, MA/Pittsfield) rounded out the top-ten finishers for the Skyhawks after navigating the course in 19:09.10. 

CCSU landed four harriers in the top-fifteen, led by Maegan Desmarais (Thomaston, CT/Thomaston) with a time of 18:56.10 for a sixth place finish. 

Saint Francis U junior Tesslyn Helms (Pittsburgh, PA/Oakland Catholic) was the individual runner up, crossing the finish line in 18:35.60, and was followed by LIU's Lexi Smith (Shoreham, NY/Shoreham-Wading River (Suffolk Community College)), who earned a third place time of 18:45.30. 

NEC Rookie of the Year honors went to Saint Francis U's Anna Quackenbush (Mount Airy, MD/Linganore), who was the top freshman finisher with a time of 19:03.20 and ended the race seventh overall.

2023 NEC Women's Cross Country Final Results

1. Stonehill - 61
2. CCSU - 67
3. Saint Francis U - 71
4. Sacred Heart - 104
5. Wagner - 110
6. Merrimack - 139
7. LIU - 141
8. Le Moyne - 204
9. FDU - 283

2023 NEC Women's Cross Country All-Conference Team