ROCHESTER, NY - The Utica University women's cross country team took fifth place out of nine scoring teams at the 2025 Empire 8 Championships on Saturday morning. 

Marlo Townsend (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) led the Pioneers with a time of 22:55.7, running her way into a team high fifth place finish. Catherine Manna (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) finished the 6k race with a time of 23:47.7, coming in 15th place. 

Lacey Simmons (Vernon Center, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) and Emma Charboneau (Fultonville, NY/Fonda-Fultonville) were the next Pioneers across the line with times of 24:57.6 and 26:37.3, respectively. 

Rounding out the scorecard for the Pioneers was Isabella Verdejo (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford), Caroline Young, and Kamryn Williams (New York Mills, NY/New York Mills). Verdejo finished with a time of 27:13.1, Young finished with a time of 28:32.7, and Williams finished with a time of 29:49.2.

Utica will now turn its attention to the NCAA Niagara Regional Championship, hosted by University of Rochester. Start time on Saturday, November 15 from Rochester, NY is set for 10am.