WENHAM, MA-  Freshman Amy Santella (Cheshire, MA) raced to a 29th place finish at the Pop Crowell Invitational hosted by Gordon College on Saturday, to lead the Lasell College women's cross country team.  

The Lasers finished in 11th place overall as a squad, competing amongst both Division III and Division II teams, including first place finisher Saint Anselm College.  Santella led the Lasers with a final time of 20:23 on the 5K course, slicing 22.80 seconds off her previous personal record.  Her 29th place finish was an impressive feat out of a field of 270 women runners.  She was also the first Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) rookie runner to cross the finish line, and the third overall GNAC competitor to complete. 

Following Santella's outstanding performance was senior Meghan Missett (Lowell, MA) who ended just eight seconds behind her teammate, at 20:31, in 36th place overall.  

Sophomore Jess Smith (Townsend, MA) and senior Amanda Driscoll, along with freshmen Kelly Pigott (Upton, MA) and Sam Mackie (Dorchester, MA) all clocked new personal-bests on Saturday as well.  Smith chipped 35 seconds off her prior best run, finishing third for Lasell with a time of 21:40.  Driscoll knocked off two seconds, cutting down to 22 minutes and 15 seconds for her best run and Pigott and Mackie concluded the course in 27:18 and 27:26 respectively for their new records.

Sophomore Solange Carpenter (Gorham, ME) and junior Christina Annicelli (North Easton, MA) rounded out the Lasers' scoring runners.  Carpenter wound up with a time of 22:39 and Annicelli clocked a 23:53.

The Lasers will head off to St. Joseph's College of Maine on Saturday, October 8th for their next race, the Running Monks Invitational.