WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Freshman Aly Richard (New Hartford, Conn.) was the overall individual champion, leading the Lasell University women's cross country squad to the team title Friday afternoon at the University of Saint Joseph Blue Jay Invitational.

Lasell had five of the top 10 finishers among the 29 runners on four teams in the meet, placing first with a team score of 31. Host USJ was runner-up with a score of 55, Mitchell College was third with 65, and Dean College was fourth with 73.

Richard (left), who has been Lasell's top runner in all three meets this season, completed the 5K course in 22 minutes and five seconds, a pace of 7:08 per mile and more than a minute faster than her previous best time this season. She was 25 seconds ahead of the runner-up, Mitchell sophomore Lara Jacobs (22:30).

Sophomore Meagan Phillips (North Reading, Mass.) was Lasell's second finisher across the line, placing fifth in a time of 25:08, a five-minute drop from a race two weeks ago. Freshman Molly Cochrane (Raymond, Maine) and senior Emma Vierling (Monmouth, Maine) were right behind in seventh and eighth place in 25:42 and 25:58, respectively, and senior Shakira Henriquez (Methuen, Mass.) was a strong 10th in 27:04.Richard, who has been Lasell's top runner in all three meets this season, completed the 5K course in 22 minutes and five seconds, a pace of 7:08 per mile and more than a minute faster than her previous best time this season. She was 25 seconds ahead of the runner-up, Mitchell sophomore Lara Jacobs (22:30).

Also posting solid finishes for the Lasers were junior Emily Hong (Southborough, Mass.) and senior Sophie Fistori (Dartmouth, Mass.), who placed 14th and 15th, respectively, in times of 30:22 and 30:37.

The Lasers will race again next Saturday, Sept. 25, at the Elms College Blazer Classic at Chicopee (Mass.) Memorial State Park, beginning at 10:00 a.m.

(Photos courtesy of Stephen McLaughlin)

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