CHICOPEE, Mass. – The Lasell University women's cross country team placed third out of nine teams Saturday at the Elms College Blazer Classic at Chicopee Memorial State Park.

The meet featured six teams from the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC), including the top five teams in the meet. Simmons won the event with a team score of 30, followed by Regis College (43), Lasell (97), Elms (101) and University of Saint Joseph, Connecticut (113). Mitchell College placed sixth, and Western New England University, Dean College and Eastern Nazarene did not post a team score.

Freshman Aly Richard (New Hartford, Conn.) was the top Laser finisher, placing seventh overall among 48 runners. She completed the 6K course in 27 minutes, 27 seconds. Classmate Molly Cochrane (Raymond, Maine) was 20th, crossing the line in 31:22, and senior Shakira Henriquez (Methuen, Mass.) was 25th in 32 minutes flat.

Sophomore Meagan Phillips (North Reading, Mass.) took 32nd place for Lasell in 34:26, and junior Emily Hong (Southborough, Mass.) rounded out the Laser scorers with a 41st place in 41:04.

The Lasers will race again next Saturday, Oct. 2, at the Bruce Kirsh Cross Country Cup at the Hopkinton State Fairgrounds in Hopkinton, N.H., hosted by Franklin Pierce University.

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