Women’s Cross Country Team Earns Third at Mass. Maritime Invitational

BUZZARD'S BAY, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College women's cross country team took home hardware after finishing third at the 12th Annual Lt. Travis Fuller Invitational hosted by the Massachusetts Maritime Academy Saturday.

The third-place finish marks the Lions' highest finish since 2005 when the then-Crusaders claimed runner-up honors.

Eastern Nazarene landed three runners in the top-10 to finish ahead of Newbury, Mount Ida, and Pine Manor.

Rookie Karen Diaz (Gaithersburg, Md.) garnered fifth place with a time of 22:31 in her second collegiate race.

Jael Bourque (Nashua, N.H.) crossed the finish line in 22:38 to grab seventh. Dezirae Maffit (Aurora, Ill.) turned in a mark of 23:21 to pick up ninth place.

Rachel Venable (Brewer, Maine) clocked in at 27:56 and Noelle Rudeen (San Gabriel, Calif.) posted a time of 27:59 while Eileen Hernandez (Rochester, N.Y.) finished on Rudeen's heels in 28:00.

The host Buccaneers locked up the team title with a pair of top-five finishers, including individual champion Meaghan Hamilton who covered the 5K course in 20:30.

Up next, Eastern Nazarene will race in the Westfield State Invitational October 8.