ROCHESTER, NY -- The Alfred University women's cross country team finished 23rd at the University of Rochester Invitational at Genesee Valley Park on Saturday afternoon.

The Saxons ran against 24 teams on the day while fielding a team of first-year runners with three veteran runners. Sydney Ribble (Addison, NY/Addison) led the way to score 110 points in 154th place with a time of 26:38.0. Nyah Allen (Schenectady, NY/Mohonasen) followed with a time of 28:29.7, just ahead of Vladyslava Makarenko (Berdychiv, Ukraine/Lyceum 23) and her time of 28.34.8. Alivia Kocan (Hornell, NY/Arkport Central) was exactly 10 seconds behind Makarenko. Mahina Elchibekova (Ishkoshim, Gorno-Badakhstan, Tajikistan/I.Ismailov School #21/Middlebury Union) rounded out the scoring places for AU with a time of 29:10.3.

"After three weeks of straight training and no meets, it was a perfect day for the team to get back on the line," Assistant Head Coach Sierra Wilson '22 said. "With such a young team on both the men's and women's sides, this was most of the athletes' first time running a 6k and 8k. A lot was learned today, and I can't wait to see what the rest of the season brings."

Saturday's race was also an Alfred Cup event with Alfred State College coming out on top, for both the men's and women's races.

The Saxons will next run at Roberts Wesleyan University on Saturday, September 27.