DURHAM, N.H. - The Vermont men's and women's cross country teams competed Friday afternoon at the 2021 America East Cross Country Championships hosted by UNH on-campus. The women placed fifth overall with 141 points and the men placed sixth with 165 points.
 
Vermont's standout performer of the meet was Jane Leighton who earned Second Team All-Conference honors placing 10th overall in the women's race. She also won the 2021 Women's Cross Country Elite 18 Award with a 3.99 GPA in Professional Nursing.
 
RELATED LINKS
Men's Results 8k (.pdf)
Women's Results 5k (.pdf)
Photo Gallery
 
COACH'S QUOTE
"Very pleased for Jane to earn All-Conference honors today," said head coach Matt Belfield. "The women ran pretty well overall, just a crazy good conference this year. Congrats to UMass Lowell for a really good race."
 
"Jane being recognized as the Elite 18 Award winner is especially significant given that she is Nursing major, doesn't get more challenging than to be a three-season athlete doing clinical rotations and still perform at that level."
 
"The men didn't have their best team race today, but we recognize the strong runs by Wyatt and Owen," added Belfield. "Our guys are disappointed, but that can be a great motivator. We'll get some rest and go after a better finish at NCAA Regionals."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Leighton's time of 17:13.52 was just 48.9 seconds behind the America East Champion Emily MacKay from Binghamton. UMass Lowell won the team championship with 32 points on the women's side.
• Sophomore Lily Porth was the Catamounts second finisher she took 31st with a time of 18:14.9 for the Catamounts. UVM's Andie Cornish, Clare Kelly and Meaghan Alba finished one after another for spots 38-40.
• Dan Schaffer from Binghamton won the men's 8k race with a time of 23:55.8. UMass Lowell also claimed the men's team title with a score of 26 points.
• Wyatt Matyas (25:23.7, 29th), Owen Amsden (25:29.7, 34th) and Andrew Crompton (25:39.9, 36th) were the Catamounts top-three finishers on the men's side.

UP NEXT
Vermont cross country returns to action for the NCAA Northeast Regional on Friday, November 12 at Franklin Park in Boston, Mass.