STANDISH, Maine – The Lasell University men's and women's cross country teams competed at the annual Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championships Saturday afternoon at Saint Joseph's College of Maine.

The Lasers finished eighth out of 10 teams in the men's scoring, while the Lasers had just four runners in the women's race due to injuries and did not post a team score.

Junior Geralson Withrow (Mystic, Conn.) was the top finisher for the Lasers, placing 26th out of 89 runners on the 8K course in a time of 29 minutes, 37 seconds. Senior Matt Holden (Methuen, Mass.) was the next finisher for Lasell, placing 45th in a time of 31:13. The next three Lasers were grouped together, with freshman Zach Kirsch (Winsted, Conn.) 59th in 32:49 and junior David Jean (Malden, Mass.) and sophomore Joan Guzman (Nantucket, Mass.) placing 61st and 62nd, respectively, both with a time of 33:12. Rounding out the Lasell contingent was senior Kyle Mullen (West Newbury, Mass.), 73rd in 34:39, and senior Kevin Wallin (Billerica, Mass.), 84th in 39:31.

Sophomore Emma Murray (Wethersfield, Conn.) was the top finisher for the Laser women, placing 48th among 94 competitors in the 6K race in 28 minutes, 49 seconds. Sophomore Shakira Henriquez (Methuen, Mass.) was the second-highest Laser finisher, placing 56th in 29:40, followed by sophomore Grace West (Kennebunk, Maine) in 63rd in 30:01, and sophomore Emma Vierling (Monmouth, Maine), 83rd in 32:30.

Holden represented Lasell on the GNAC Men's All-Sportsmanship Team, and junior Amanda Miller (New Bedford, Mass.) was on the Women's All-Sportsmanship Team.

The Lasers squads will wrap up the cross country season in two weeks, Saturday, November 16, at the NCAA Division III New England Championships, hosted by Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine.

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