HOPKINTON, N.H. (September 17, 2016) – Freshman Julia Cormier (Northwood, N.H.) led the way with a 26th-place finish on Saturday morning, as the host Franklin Pierce University women's cross country team placed ninth, out of 11 teams, at the Bruce Kirsh Cross Country Cup. The meet was held at the Hopkinton State Fairgrounds, which will also serve as host of the NCAA East Regional for the second straight year in November.

Cormier posted a 5k time of 20:25.3 to lead all Ravens runners on the day and take the 26th position in the 136-runner field. Fellow freshman Rebecca Zylak (Goffstown, N.H.) and sophomore Sarah Hart (Glastonbury, Conn.) also cashed in top-35 finishes on Saturday, with the former placing 32nd (20:42.2) and the latter finishing 35th (20:47.0).

It would be more than 30 spots back to the next-fastest Raven however, as 67th- and 75th-place finishes would round out the scoring five on the day for Franklin Pierce. In 67th, it was junior Alexa Cassara (Bay Shore, N.Y.), with a time of 21:48.8. In 75th was freshman Shaylyn Harrington (Pelham, N.H.), who ran a time of 22:07.6.

It all added up to 202 points and a ninth-place finish for the Ravens on the day. Up front, Merrimack accumulated just 66 points to pick up the team title. The Warriors were trailed by Bentley in second (85 points) and Adelphi in third (120 points).

The Ravens return to action on Saturday, Sept. 24, when they travel to the Harry F. Anderson Invitational, hosted by Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, N.Y.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce cross country apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).