WESTFIELD, Mass. – The Connecticut College men's and women's cross country teams competed at the 27th annual James Earley Invitational on Saturday afternoon at Stanley Park, an event hosted by Westfield State University.

Several of Conn's top runners sat out the race in preparation for next weekend's home meet. Those who did compete got a preview of the course that will host the NCAA Mideast Regional on November 11.

In the men's 8K, the Camels finished 13th in the field of 24 teams with a score of 328. The Conn women took 12th in the field of 25, finishing with a score of 353 in the 6K race. 

Conn will next host the Connecticut College Invitational on Saturday, October 14 at Harkness Memorial Park in Waterford, Conn.

Women's Race

The Camels raced against a mix of Division II and III programs and finished ahead of 13 teams. The spread between Conn's top-seven runners was just 1:19, the smallest margin of any team in the field.

Phoebe Wood (Hood River, Ore.) was the first Camel to cross the finish line, securing 58th place in a time of 25:16.85. She was one of six Conn runners to log a career best time in the race.

Molly Donovan (Medfield, Mass.) and Katherine Keating (Dorchester, Mass.) finished less than five seconds apart, placing 71st and 74th overall, respectively. Donovan recorded a time of 25:41.35 while Keating clocked in at 25:46.24.

Charlotte Maturo (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) and Caitlin Bird (Shrewsbury, Mass.) completed the scoring for the Camels. Maturo placed 85th overall in a time of 26:11.34 while Bird finished 87th in 26:13.41.

Conn's Top 7
Phoebe Wood (58th, 25:16.85)
Molly Donovan (71st, 25:41.35)
Katherine Keating (74th, 25:46.24)
Charlotte Maturo (85th, 26:11.34)
Caitlin Bird (87th, 26:13.41)
Annika Hegde (89th, 26:23.65)
Maia Bihari (92nd, 26:36.43)

Men's Race

With a mix of primarily Division II and III teams in the field, the Camels finished ahead of 11 other programs. Plymouth State's Michael Olson took home medalist honors, with Utica's Bennett Melita placing second and Wesleyan's Noah Mahoney taking third.

Brendan Mellitt (Cheshire, Conn.) turned in a stellar race for Conn, finishing fourth overall in a season-best time of 25:43.43. He missed out on a podium place by less than four seconds.

Nicholas DeMarco (Albany, N.Y.) was the next Camel to cross the finish line, recording a time of 27:31.95 to place 57th. Kevin Lieue (Bellevue, Wash.) and Jonathan Fossel (Evergreen, Colo.) finished in 92nd and 93rd, respectively, with times of 28:26.80 and 28:27.48. Deem Quinn (Cranston, R.I.) rounded out the scoring and finished 108th with a time of 29:04.73. 

Conn's Top 7
Brendan Mellitt (4th, 25:43.43)
Nicholas DeMarco (57th, 27:31.95)
Kevin Lieue (92nd, 28:26.80)
Jonathan Fossel (93rd, 28:27.48)
Deem Quinn (108th, 29:04.73)
Wesley Schreiber (126th, 29:50.61)
Ozan Turner (149th, 30:57.83)