LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. – Courtney Kitchen and Danielle Grosso finished one second apart in 11th and 12th place, respectively, to lead Fairfield University Women's Cross Country in Saturday's season-opening meet at the Siena Invitational.
 
Kitchen crossed the finish line of the 6K course at the Crossings of Colonie in 19:13.4 – just one-tenth of a second out of the top-10 – with Grosso right behind her at 19:14.4.
 
Fairfield's first eight finishers were all among the top half of the 79-runner field. Mia Melao placed 20th, Anna Weissenberg finished 21st and Holly Arrison was 32nd in her collegiate debut to round out Fairfield's five scorers.
 
Emily DallaRiva, Jane Frawley and Catherine Lanahan were also within the top half of the field.
 
As a team, Fairfield placed fourth, comfortably besting Le Moyne and Union. The Stags were edged out by Siena, Marist and Albany. The Saints were led to victory in their home meet by individual medalist Olivia Lomascolo, who broke the tape in 18:22.6.
 
Fairfield returns to action in New York on Friday, Sept. 17 at venerable Van Cortlandt Park for the Br. Doyle Meet of Champions hosted by Iona.