WESTFIELD, Mass. (October 22, 2017) – The Franklin Pierce University women's cross country team saw each of its top-three finishers post personal bests on Saturday, which helped the team to an 11^th-place finish (out of 15 teams) at the Northeast-10 Conference Championships, hosted by American International College at Stanley Park. Sophomore Rebecca Zylak (Goffstown, N.H.) led the way with a 41^st-place finish.

Zylak led two Ravens in the top-50 of the 141-runner field, as Franklin Pierce collected 267 points on the way to the 11^th-place finish. Up front, Stonehill (39 points) narrowly edged Assumption (41 points) for the NE10 title, while Merrimack (157 points) took third.

"[Running personal bests] is difficult to do when it matters most, and they can be proud of their efforts," said head coach Zach Emerson of his top runners after the meet. "If this team can figure it all out by the NCAA Regional, and all run well on the same day, we will no doubt be in the position to challenge for a top-eight or top-10 finish in the East."

Zylak put together a 6k time of 23:31.77 to finish 41^st and lead the way for Franklin Pierce. The time stands as the second-fastest 6k time in program history. Sophomore Julia Cormier (Northwood, N.H.) followed in 45^th place, with a time of 23:42.22. Senior Natalie Davies (Ware, Mass.) rounded out the three personal bests for the Ravens, with a time of 24:06.72, to place 54^th.

Franklin Pierce's scoring five was rounded out by freshman Marissa Farago (Salisbury, Mass.) in 75^th and freshman Lauren Stankiewicz (Naugatuck, Conn.) in 96^th. Farago turned in a time of 24:45.31, while Stankiewicz stopped the clock at 25:53.30.

At the top of the field, Stonehill senior Emily Knox put together a run of 21:37.02 to take home the individual title.

The Ravens are back in action on Saturday, Nov. 4, when they travel to the NCAA Championship East Regional. Daemen College will host the event at Audubon Golf Course in Amherst, 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).