2022 NEC Women's Cross Country Championship Information

TYRONE, Pennsylvania. (October 27, 2022) - The Stonehill College women's cross country team was voted No. 4 in the Northeast Conference (NEC) Preseason Coaches' Poll this past August, and have made strides at each meet the Skyhawks have run in this season leading up to its inaugural NEC Championship meet that will be hosted tomorrow by Saint Francis (Pa.) University at the B&D Acres Course at 11 a.m.

The 2022 NEC Women's Cross Country Championship will air live on NEC Front Row. Race results and recaps, photos, and video will be posted throughout the day on NEC social media platforms.

Stonehill is among eight teams competing in the five-kilometer race, including defending champions Central Connecticut State University, Fairleigh Dickenson University, LIU, Merrimack College, Sacred Heart University, Saint Francis of Brooklyn Wagner College, and host, Saint Francis. 

The Skyhawks are the newcomers in the world of Division I, making this race historical in school history by being the first program to compete for an NEC Championship. 

Stonehill brings a rich championship pedigree to its inaugural NEC Cross Country Championships. The Skyhawks won an NE10 record 18 women's cross country titles, including a string of 11-straight from 2009-2019. prior to beginning its transition to NCAA Division I as a member of the NEC in July.

All of the Skyhawks' top runners will be competing tomorrow afternoon with 12 athletes representing Stonehill on the starting line:

• Sophomore Emma Lawrence: has been strong over the season, her most recent race being a 5K race at the 2022 NEICAAA XC Championships, placing 13^th with a time of 18:43.4. She is making her second Conference Championship meet appearance, having placed eighth to earn All-Northeast-10 honors at the 2021 NE10 Cross Country Championships.
• Senior Victoria Lombardi: has been placing among the top runners in the most recent races, with her last finishing time of 10:15 at the CCSU Mini Meet, placing seventh overall in the 3K race. Lombardi has been leaving her mark at each race she has run in, looking to be a top runner for the Skyhawks having made two previous Conference Championship appearances, finishing 11^th at the 2021 NE10 Championships to earn All-NE10 honors.
• Fifth-Year Rebecca Erhard: has been a key component for Stonehill over the past few seasons, and looks to make a big mark during her last race as a Skyhawk. In her most recent race, she competed in the 2022 NEICAAA XC Championships, placing 20^th with a time of 18:52.5. She will also be making her third Conference Championship meet appearance, finishing sixth at the 2021 NE10 Championship to collect All-Conference honors. She followed that up with a fifth-place finish at the 2021 NCAA Division II Cross Country East Regional.
• Freshman Jordan Malloy: A Conference-record five-time NEC Rookie of the Week has been shining her first year as a Skyhawk. She placed 22^nd in her last race, with a finishing time of 18:53.2 in the 5K course, and will look to continue to impress in her NEC Championships debut.
• Senior Elizabeth Marshall: finished her last race in the top 20 with a 16^th place finish in 10:32 at the 2022 NEICAAA XC Championships. Tomorrow will be her second Conference Championship appearance, finishing 23^rd  at the 2021 NE10 Championships.

More Racers

• Freshman Ava Cote: Top finish at the CCSU Mini Meet 3K with a time of 10:41.5 placing 28^th
• Freshman Emily Young: Top finish at CCSU Mini Meet 3K with a time of 10:47.9 placing 34^th
• Senior Jillian Callahan: Top finish at CCSU Mini Meet 3K with a time of 11:00.5 placing 42^nd, and is also making her second Conference Championship appearance.
• Junior Caitlin Swanson: Top finish at CCSU Mini Meet 3K with a time of 11:00.7 placing 43^rd, and is also making her second Conference Championship appearance.
• Freshman Olivia Young: Top finish at UMass Dartmouth XC Invitational 5K with a time of 20:44.7
• Junior Caroline Surrette: Top finish at CCSU Mini Meet 3K with a time of 11:47.8 placing 58^th, and is also making her second career Conference Championship appearance.

Women's Cross Country Northeast Conference Coaches' Preseason Poll

1. CCSU (4)
2. LIU (5)
3. Saint Francis U
4. Stonehill
5. Sacred Heart
6. Merrimack
7. Wagner
8. FDU
9. St. Francis Brooklyn

For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Fans can also download the Stonehill Skyhawks "Front Row" mobile app, powered by PrestoSports, on iTunes and the Android Market.