PAXTON, Mass. – The Worcester State women's cross country team finished third in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Championships at Moore State Park on Saturday as Worcester State's freshman Mia Rogers (North Dighton, Mass.) and freshman Laura DelleChiaie (Haverhill, Mass.) were the first freshman runners at the meet to cross the finish line.

Worcester State's top finisher was Rogers who placed fourth out of the 96 runners competing in the MASCAC's. Rogers crossed the finish line with a time of 19:32 – just three seconds behind third-place finisher from Westfield State. This time was a 20-second personal best on the course, besting her previous mark of 19:52 in the Worcester City Meet. She also recorded the fastest time ever run by a Worcester State University woman runner on this course.

"Mia ran a tactically smart race today, start to finish," said head coach Gary Jusseaume. "She was strong on the up-hills, forced her pace with a mile left in the race, and executed a formidable final kick over the last 150 meters of the race."

"Mia's concentrated, hard work the last two weeks served her well today," stated Jusseaume. "Now our training focus shifts to preparing for the NCAA Division III Regional Meet at Connecticut College in two weeks."

Not far behind Rogers was DelleChiaie who finished 11^th with a time of 20:40. "Laura just missed her course personal best by less than a one-second," said Jusseaume. "She will too be competing in the NCAA Regional Meet in a couple weeks."

Freshman Kelsey Bedard (Leominster, Mass.) placed 17^th with a time of 21:14 to attain her personal course record, besting her previous record by 25 seconds. "Kelsey has been a steady performer all season, growing more competitive each meet and will likewise compete in the NCAA Regional Meet," state Jusseaume.

Freshman Shayla Schoeneberger (Vernon, Conn.), sophomore Justine Murdocca (Milford, Mass.), sophomore Sara McIsaac (Weymouth, Mass.), and sophomore Danielle Cote (Dighton, Mass.) rounded up the top seven for the Lancers at the 24^th, 28^th, 29^th, and 35^th spots, respectively.

Results can be found HERE

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