NEWBURGH, NY – The Wilkes University women's cross country team recorded its best finish since the 2010 season at a meet with more than 10 teams when the Colonels placed fifth of 26 teams Saturday at the Mount Saint Mary College Invitational.

The Colonels earned 230 points from its five scoring runners for the top-five finish. U.S. Merchant Marine Academy was the team champion with 65 points. A total of 229 runners took part in the 6k event.

Autumn Pedron (Pottsville, PA/Minersville) was the top finisher for Wilkes. She completed the course in 29^th place overall with a time of 28:30. Sara Ross (Nazareth, PA/Nazareth) came in at 29:00 minutes to place 38^th. Caroline Rickard (Orwigsburg, PA/Blue Mountain) placed 45^th with a 29:13 and Sydney Rochette (Colchester, CT/Academy of Aerospace and Engineering) was 56^th with a 29:50. The final Colonels runner to count to the team score was Mia Walker (Matawan, NJ/Matawan Regional) in 79^th place with a time of 30:51.

Kaitlin Sutton (Shavertown, PA/Lake Lehman) (81^st, 30:56), Jill Weston (South Canaan, PA/Western Wayne) (109^th, 32:29), Cassidy Lee (Rocky Mount, NC/Nash Central) (126^th, 33:33), Arianna Ryan (Brockton, PA/Tamaqua) (129^th, 33:39), and Kyleigh Smeltzer (Manchester, PA/Northeastern) (144^th, 34:55) rounded out the Colonels runners.

The effort was the highest finish for the women's team at an event with 10 or more teams since placing third of 10 teams at the Falcon/Mule Classic at Cedar Crest in 2010.

The Colonels return to the course next Saturday when they head to Center Valley, Pa. for the DeSales Invitational starting at 12:00 p.m.