Peers Leads Women's Cross Country at MASCAC/Alliance Championships

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. – The Bridgewater State University women's cross country team competed at the MASCAC/New England Alliance Championships held on Saturday at the Mount Greylock High School course in Williamstown.

The Bears placed second in the MASCAC team standings behind conference champion Westfield State University, and finished fourth in the Alliance results trailing first place Keene State College, runner-up Westfield and third place University of Southern Maine.

BSU graduate student Jacey Peers (Elmsford, N.Y.) led the Bears with a five-kilometer time of 20:42.36 as she finished fifth among MASCAC harriers and 15th overall in the Alliance results.

Jess Cardin of Westfield State captured the MASCAC individual championship with a time of 19:01.56, while Samantha Goldsmith of Keene State won the Alliance title with a time of 18:54.33.

Senior Krysta Zbikowski (Ashburnham, Mass.) was next across the line for the Bears as she placed eighth in the MASCAC and 21st in the Alliance with a time of 20:53.45.  BSU juniors Emily Ducharme (North Attleboro, Mass.), Rachel Ducharme (North Attleboro, Mass.) and Danielle Poto (North Andover, Mass.) finished 12th (21:11.63), 13th (21:14.24) and 14th (21:19.03), respectively, among MASCAC harriers.

Peers and Zbikowski both earned All-MASCAC accolades.

Next Saturday, the BSU cross country teams compete at the ECAC Division III Championships hosted by Westfield State University.