University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Minuteman Invitational
Livingstone Leads Women's XC In Season Opener
September 12, 2015 | Women's Cross Country
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AMHERST, Mass. - University of Massachusetts women's cross country opened up its 2015 campaign on Saturday, hosting the Minuteman Invitational at the UMass Cross Country Course. In a field of six teams, the Minutewomen placed fourth with 113 points, while Connecticut won the meet with 25 points, followed by Boston College (54) and Vermont (64), respectively.
Leading the way for UMass in her collegiate debut, freshman Alexa Livingstone was the first across the finish line for the Minutewomen. The Ottawa, Ontario, native placed 16th out of 82 runners, completing the 5K course in 18 minutes, 39 seconds.
Senior Carly Zinner was UMass' No. 2 finisher, taking 24th overall in 18 minutes, 57 seconds, while sophomore Colleen Sands also placed in the top-25. Sands posted a time of 18 minutes, 57 seconds, good for 24th in the field.
Rounding out the scorers for the Mintutewomen were senior Molly McMahon in 32nd and junior Deirdre Martyn in 36th with times of 19 minutes, 14 seconds and 19 minutes, 21 seconds, respectively.
Prior to the start of the race, UMass celebrated he 40th anniversary of the women's cross country program by acknowledging members of the inaugural team from the 1975 season who were in attendance at the meet. In 1975, the first year of the program's existence, UMass went unbeaten through the fall and won the New England Women's Collegiate Championships under head coach Ken O'Brien. The Minutewomen then capped off the year by finishing ninth nationally.
The current Minutewomen will now have 13 days to rest up and train for their next meet as the squad will head to the Coast-To-Coast Battle in Beantown on Friday Sept. 25.
For continued coverage of UMass women's cross country, follow the team on Twitter @UMass_XC_TF and on UMassAthletics.com.
