POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – Mia Strazzella placed 12th in a field of 104 runners to set the pace for Fairfield University Women's Cross Country on Saturday at the Marist Season Opener. Strazzella completed the 5K course in 19:38.3 in her collegiate debut.
 
First-year harriers accounted for the Stags' top four finishers, as Isabella Colabatistto and Natalie Haracz placed 28th and 29th respectively, with Michaela Kenny finishing 36th. Rounding out the scoring five was Emily Dalla Riva in 41st place.
 
Molly Ryle, Emily Cochi, Megan Furlong, Caroline Burns, Alexandra Messina and Kierra Pickard were also among the 11 runners who hit the course for the Stags on Saturday at Vassar Farm.
 
On the team leaderboard, the Stags placed sixth of seven teams. Meet host Marist won the event, with all five Red Fox scorers among the top 16 finishers. Siena took home second place and Manhattan rode individual champion Andria Scaglione – who posted a time of 18:39.2 – to a third place team performance.
 
Up next, the Stags will head to Montgomery, N.Y. and Twin Ponds on the Farm – the site of the 2023 MAAC Championship – for the Jasper Fall XC Invitational. The meet is set for Saturday, Sept. 16.