ALFRED, N.Y. -- The Elmira College women's cross country team placed third out of four teams at the six-kilometer Alfred University Invitational at the Jericho Hill Fields course on Saturday.

The Soaring Eagles, who had a pair of top-20 finishers, earned a team score of 78, besting their Empire 8 Conference foes from Alfred by 13 points in the standings. William Smith College posted a perfect score of 15 to win the race, followed by the Pioneers of Alfred State College with 65 points.

In her second collegiate race, first-year runner Emma MacDowell '23 led the Purple and Gold to the finish line. The Rushville, New York, native completed the 6K course in 28:23.31 and earned her first career top-10 finish by placing 10th out of 35.

Junior Claire Preisch '21 was the next Soaring Eagle to finish. The Milton, Pennsylvania, product clocked in at 29:22.40, good enough for 16th place. Ashley Naples '22 posted a 6K time of 30:36.40 and secured her first-ever top-25 finish in 21st place.

Also competing in their first 6K races for Elmira were freshmen Danielle Knapp '23, Gabrielle Stemmer '23 and Mackenzie Becker '23. Knapp navigated the Jericho Hill Fields in 31:53.72 and finished 28th overall, followed by Stemmer (32:45.77) in 32nd and Becker (36:44.43) in 34th.

Elmira's lone male runner, Owen Rose '22, endured his first eight-kilometer competition of the fall season on Saturday. Rose, who finished in 23rd place out of a field of 32, did so with a time of 32:58.05.

Elmira Women's Results
10 – Emma MacDowell – 28:23.31
16 – Claire Preisch – 29:22.40
21 – Ashley Naples – 30:36.40
28 – Danielle Knapp – 31:53.72
32 – Gabrielle Stemmer – 32:45.77
34 – Mackenzie Becker – 36:44.43

Team Results

1. William Smith – 15
2. Alfred State – 65
3. Elmira – 78
4. Alfred – 91

Up Next
Following a break from competition next weekend, the Soaring Eagles will head to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to run in Lancaster Bible College's Charger Invitational.