Women's Cross Country Secures Second Place at MASCAC Championships

LEOMINSTER, Mass. – Worcester State University's Mia Rogers (N. Dighton, Mass.) helped her team to a second place finish at the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Championships Saturday morning at the Doyle Conservation.

Rogers placed second overall with a time of 19:15 out of the 86 runners in the field. Westfield State's Jess Cardin came in at first to help the Westfield State to the MASCAC Championship title.

"Mia's second place finish was 40-seconds faster than her time on this same course in September," mentioned head coach Gary Jusseaume.  "Her strength running the hills broke the top three Bridgewater State University runners at the mile mark."

Worcester's second runner to cross the finish line was freshman Elisabeth Olson (Wilmington, Mass.) with a time of 20:37, good for a 10^th place finish overall.

"Elisabeth ran a 22-second course PR enroute to an excellent race," commented Jusseaume.  "I like the progress Elisabeth is making as the season now focuses on the NCAA Regional meet in two weeks."

A pack of Lancers came in around the 21^st minute marker, including Worcester's Laura DelleChiaie (Haverhill, Mass.) and Justine Murdocca (Milford, Mass.) at 14^th and 15^th places, respectively.

"Laura and Justine finished a second apart closing a key scoring gap," said Jusseaume. "Their working together late in the race earned them each major personal course records."

 Kelsey Bedard (Leominster, Mass.) and Emily Bumpus (Bridgewater, Mass.) came in just after at the 18^th and 20^th spots.

"Kelsey was our key fifth place scorer in 20:57, a 2:47 course PR," stated Jusseaume.  "Her solid time and place sealed our second place team finish in this meet.  Her race effort was exemplary,"

"Emily Bumpus cruised to a 1:55 PR course record," said Jusseaume.  "This was a terrific effort given the fact she's been ill the past two weeks."

"I am proud of this entire team for the outstanding effort they put forth in this meet," concluded Jusseaume. "Today's race was a total team effort with each runner earning a course PR."

The Lancers take a break until Nov. 12 when they will travel to the NCAA Regional Meet, hosted by Westfield State University.