Houghton, NY — Russell Sage College women's cross country team travelled to Houghton College on Friday afternoon for the 2021 Empire 8 Women's Cross Country Championship. Houghton hosted the event at the Houghton College Dream Cross Country Course, a 5 k course. St. John Fisher College won the women's team championship and the Gators picked up third place.

RSC's rookie Mackenzie Feeney (Saugerties, NY/Saugerties) was named the Rookie of the Meet after her impressive finish in the championship as the top freshman to cross the finish line.

Team Standings

1. St. John Fisher College    21 points
2. Nazareth College              51 points
3. Russell Sage College        86 points
4. Houghton College            110 points
5. Utica College                     129 points
6. Alfred University               139 points          

Leading the way for the Gators was Feeney as she picked up a third place finish with her time of 19:32.6.  Rookie Emma Cronin (Greenwich, NY/Greenwich Central) was next in seventh place with her time of 19:42.9.

Sophomore Molly Kane (Rensselaer, NY/Columbia) was the next Gator to cross the finish line as she was 21^st in 21:27.9 , Junior Kristin McAlonen (Burnt Hills, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) picked up 33^rd place in 22:54.8, while rookie Skylar Grybos (Amsterdam, NY/Amsterdam) was next in 23:01.1 to take 35^th place. Sophomore Evelyn Gile (Ballston Lake, NY/Shenendehowa) picked up 39^th in 23:20.9, and senior Sophia Keravich (Barrington, NH/Oyster River) finished in 41^st place in 23:51.8. Junior Giannah French (Cherry Plain, NY/Berlin) added a time of 31:09.9 to take 46^th place.