BOSTON, Mass. – The Simmons University women's cross country team scored 299 points to place 10^th at the Jim Sheehan Memorial Alumni Cross Country Invitational hosted by Fitchburg State University at Doyle Conservation in Leominster, Mass. to open the season.

Mount Holyoke College won the team title with a score of 34 points, boasting five finishers among the top 10, while Babson College's Stephanie Rodriguez captured the individual crown with a five-kilometer time of 18:58. 

Senior Gabby Freeman (Newnan, Ga.) led the Sharks with a time of 22:27 to place 66^th, while first year Julia DiGiacomo (Franklin, Mass.) clocked in at 23:17 to finish 82nd in her first collegiate race. Junior Chloe O'Hara (Westminster, Mass.) was not far behind with a mark of 23:24 to place 86^th. 

First year Clare Thompson (Marshfield, Mass.) made her collegiate debut with a time of 23:58 to cross the finish at 95^th with junior Elena Dickey (North Andover, Mass.) also making her debut right behind Thompson at 96^th with a mark of 24:09. First year Kaitlyn Kessel (Lincolnville, Maine) was the final finisher for Simmons with a time of 24:40 to place 102^nd. 

The Sharks will run again on Saturday, September 21 when they head to Wenham, Mass. to compete in the Annual Pop Crowell Invitational at host Gordon College.