WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. – The Lasell University men's and women's cross country teams ran against some of the top Division III teams in the country Saturday afternoon at the Williams College Purple Valley Classic.

The women's race included four teams ranked in the top 10 in the NCAA Division III rankings – #4 Williams College, #5 MIT, #8 Tufts University and #10 RPI, along with #19 Middlebury College. The men's race featured #2 Williams, #10 MIT, #16 RPI, #19 Amherst and #22 Middlebury. Thus, the Lasers finished at the bottom of the team scoring among 14 women's and 19 men's teams.

Junior Amanda Miller (New Bedford, Mass.) was the top finisher for the Laser women, finishing the 6K race in 29 minutes, 30 seconds to place 149th. The next four Lasers crossed the finish line consecutively, as sophomore Shakira Henriquez (Methuen, Mass.) was the second-highest Laser finisher in 156th in 32:29, followed by freshman Devin McCarthy (West Bridgewater, Mass.) in 32:39, sophomore Grace West (Kennebunk, Maine) in 33:06, and sophomore Emma Vierling (Monmouth, Maine) in 35:02.

Junior Geralson Withrow (Mystic, Conn.) paced the Laser men, completing the 8K course in 30:14 to place 161st. Senior Matt Holden (Methuen, Mass.) was next across the line for Lasell in 220th place in 33:38, followed by freshman Zach Kirsch (Winsted, Conn.) in 35:15, sophomore Joan Guzman (Nantucket, Mass.) in 36:40, senior Kyle Mullen (West Newbury, Mass.) in 36:43, and junior Kevin Wallin (Billerica, Mass.) in 44:17.

The Lasers squads will take next weekend off and will compete again on Saturday, October 12, at the James Earley Invitational, hosted by Westfield State University.

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