The Middlebury women's cross country team finished in fifth place during the Connecticut College Invitational. The event featured an abundance of nationally-ranked programs. Winning the team crown was fifth-ranked New York University with 36 points, while #23 Central (Iowa) was second with 130 points and 24th-ranked Vassar (138 points) rounded out the top three. The Panthers scored 171 points to earn fifth place. Prior to the race, Middlebury honored seniors Maribel Carpenter, Annabelle Lapp, Sophie Nardelli, Tatum Peskin and Winnie Wang. 
 
COURSE INFORMATION

• Location: New London, Conn. (Harkness Memorial State Park)
• Host School: Connecticut College
• Distance: 6 kilometers (6K)
• Weather: Overcast & 60s
• Finish In Blue Race: Fifth of 26

HIGHLIGHTS

• In a race with 208 runners, Audrey MacLean continued her solid first season as a Panther with a collegiate-best time by over 47 seconds (21:08.90). 
• Bea Parr was next to cross the finish line in 24th place (22:10.50), while Kate Ratcliffe recorded a 34th-place showing with a time of 22:30.30. Parr's effort was a career low by 35 seconds in a 6K race, while Ratcliffe bettered her time by 52 seconds.
• Completing the scorers for the Panthers were Caroline VanSchaick in 49th (22:42.80), followed by Stephanie Renouf in 61st place (22:55.50). VanSchaick's effort was her best run by 43 seconds, while Renouf eclipsed her time by 35 ticks.
•  Morgane Orcutt (23:06.20) and Violet Ross (23:25.10) also earned top-half laurels. 

NOTES

• In the Women's White 6K race, Victoria Fawcett led the team to the line in 23:53.20. The Middlebury runner placed 11th out of 172 runners. 
• Lily Bulczynski (15th - 23:58.10) and Keegan McAuliffe (18th - 24:00.80) each recorded top-20 showings. Bulczynski's run was her career best by 4.3 seconds.

The Panthers have a week off before running for a conference title in the NESCAC Championship on October 28 at Amherst.