Complete Results

PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- The Elmira College women's cross country team came in seventh place at the 2019 Empire 8 Conference Championships, tying the record for the best finish at a conference title race in the program's brief history.

The Soaring Eagles accumulated 202 total points, just 12 behind sixth-place Hartwick College (190) and 18 ahead of eighth-place Alfred University (220). The 2019 E8 Championship went to Houghton College, which edged the hosts from St. John Fisher College by a mere two points, 45-43.

In 37th place, Claire Preisch '21 paced the Elmira women to the finish line in the 6,000-meter competition. Her time of 26:51.4 marks the fourth-best of her career, while the junior captain set a new personal record with her fastest time at an E8 title race.

First-year standout Emma MacDowell '23 ran a strong race in the last 4,000 meters. Although she sat in 51st place through the first 2,000 meters, the freshman climbed six spots, resulting in a 45th-place finish. Her time of 27:49.8 is the second-best of her debut campaign at the 6K distance.

Ashley Naples '22 was one of two Soaring Eagles to record a 6K personal record, as the local product from Horseheads, New York, was 57th with a time of 29:14.1. Naples shaved a whopping 34.8 seconds off of her previous PR time from the Lancaster Bible Charger Invitational on September 20.

A pair of freshmen – Danielle Knapp '23 and Gabrielle Stemmer '23 – were separated by just two places in the final standings. Knapp clocked in at 30:29.5 and took 60th, while Stemmer came in 62nd place with a time of 30:50.9. In 71st place, classmate Mackenzie Becker '23 completed the wooden course on the campus of St. John Fisher in 33:01.2.

The other Soaring Eagle to log a PR time was senior Abby Torres '20. In her second collegiate 6K, Torres secured a 76th-place finish with a time of 49:41.1.

Elmira Women's Results
 37 – Claire Preisch – 26:51.4
 45 – Emma MacDowell – 27:49.8
 57 – Ashley Naples – 29:14.1
 60 – Danielle Knapp – 30:29.5
 61 – Gabrielle Stemmer – 30:50.9
 71 – Mackenzie Becker – 33:01.2
 76 – Abby Torres – 49:41.1

Team Results
 1. Houghton – 43
 2. St. John Fisher – 45
 3. Nazareth – 70
 4. Utica – 80
 5. Sage – 123
 6. Hartwick – 190
 7. Elmira – 212
 8. Alfred – 220

Up Next
Elmira's postseason schedule concludes at the 2019 NCAA Division III Atlantic Regionals on Saturday, November 16, in Canton, New York. St. Lawrence University will host the regional competition at the Ronald C. Hoffman Cross Country Course.