HOUGHTON, NY – The Alfred University women's cross country team finished fifth out of nine teams during the Empire 8 Championships hosted by Houghton University on Saturday.
 
The Saxons scored 120 team points, just two away from overtaking Utica University's fourth place finish of 118 points. They finished higher than Russell Sage College (171 points), Hartwick College (197 points), Medaille University (217 points) and Keuka College (230 points).
 
McKenzie Hall (Hornell, NY/Hornell) led the Saxons with an All-Empire 8 Second Team finish as she crossed the finish line in 10^th place, beating St. John Fisher University's Brigid McGee in the final stretch. Hall ran a 24:08.2, besting McGee by 4.2 seconds. Mari Jablonski (Monticello, GA/Jasper County) also earned All-Empire 8 honors as she claimed the last spot on the Third Team in 21^st place, running a time of 24:47.8.
 
Sarah Lutkins (Union Springs, NY/Union Springs) was the next Saxon to cross the finish line, earning the 28^th scoring spot with a time of 25:52.9, jumping ahead three spots in her final approach. Ivy Vallely (Lancaster, NY/Lancaster) took 29^th scoring with a time of 26:31.4 with Ashley O'Toole (Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley) right behind in 32^nd place and a time of 26:51.3. All of the Saxon runners made leaderboard jumps throughout the race, advancing up the pack from their initial spots after the first 1.7k.
 
The Saxons will next head to University of Rochester on Saturday, November 12 for the NCAA Atlantic Regionals.