WATERFORD, CONN. – The TCNJ women's cross country team traveled up north on Saturday, running in two races at the Connecticut College Invitational. The Lions battled against some of the top cross-country teams in Division III, logging impressive individual and team performances.
 
A group of five Lions kicked off the meet in the 10:00 AM race, and they were led by Amaya Zorilla's 97^th-place finish in 24:14.2. Rookies Ananya Raja and Chloe Mellott were next across the line for TCNJ, with Raja placing in 136^th (24:40.1) and Mellott in 160^th (24:57.5). A pair of sophomores—Alissa Stumpf (200^th, 25:26.9) and Mia Zicchinella (208^th, 25:32.8)—finished out the Lions' group in the first race of the day. The five Lions finished in 24^th as a group, logging 635 points.
 
At noon, ten Lions took to the course and were led again by sophomore Teagan Walker. Walker, with a 70^th-place run in 22:16.1, finished as the lone Lion in the race in the top 100. Ella Daly finished about thirty seconds after Walker in 103^rd place (22:41.7), and she was followed soon after across the line by senior Naesha Gadie (108^th, 22:47.6). Alexis Smith (170^th, 23:28.3) and Ava Biemuller (172^nd, 23:29.7) finished next, followed by sophomores Malissa Morabito (199^th, 23:53.3) and Lilla Porter (205^th 24:00.4). Ella Feehan (213^th, 24:07.9), Brenna Traverso (222^nd, 24:24.3), and Taylor Rooney (233^rd, 24:37.8) rounded out the group for the Lions in their second race. TCNJ finished 20^th in this 'Blue' race with 538 points.
 
The Lions now look ahead to next Saturday's NJAC Championship, which will take place at home in Ewing this year. The conference winner will be decided in a race beginning at 10:30 AM on October 31^st.