GLASSBORO, N.J. – The Ursinus College women's cross country team tuned up for the upcoming Centennial Conference championship by taking part in a historic meet at the Inter-Regional Border Battle held Saturday morning on Rowan University's West Campus. With 1,410 runners registered, the race was officially the largest ever held in the state of New Jersey.
Pitted against a loaded field comprised of 11 programs residing within the top 25 of the Division III rankings, the Bears placed 39th among 46 teams. Among other Centennial Conference counterparts, Johns Hopkins took the team title with an average time of 21:17.1, while Haverford placed 15th and Swarthmore 21st.
For the third time this season, sophomore Brittany Gasser paced the Ursinus contingent with a clocking of 24:10.3, finishing just outside the top half of a field that included 387 entrants. Gasser has headed the Bears' pack at all three of the races in which she has competed.
Junior Jenna Kelly registered a collegiate best for the second time in as many meets, edging her previous mark by just under three seconds with a 24:38.4. Sophomore Riley Engel just missed a personal record of her own, crossing the line in 24:45.2.
Freshman Alyson Manley ran a solid race with a time of 25:24.2, and sophomore Gabrielle Manto was next across in 25:46.5. Senior Alicia Baker (26:10.1) and junior Lily Talerman (26:43.1) rounded out the Ursinus group.
The Bears have two weeks to prepare for the CC championship meet, which will be held at Haverford on Saturday, October 29.