BOSTON – Emma Weisse paced Suffolk women's cross country to a fourth-place showing at the Suffolk Invite Friday afternoon at Franklin Park.
Weisse buoyed the Rams' seven runners on the 5k course as the junior sped through the 3.1 miles in 19:14 to be the first competitor through the finisher's chute. Two runners later and 34 seconds later Emily Manfra crossed the to take finish third in the field of 148.
Skyler Spanbauer, Mai Linh Vankirk and Meagan Dyer scattered finishes in through 40 through 46. Spanbauer's time of 22:36 was good for 40th with Vankirk finished 12 seconds later to take 43rd. Dyer rounded out the threesome in 46th behind a time of 22:52.
Olivia Chilcott (64th – 23:50) and Natalie Fay (70th – 24:09) also took the course for the Rams.
Suffolk claimed fourth with a combined team score of 121. Emmanuel won the meet with a 69 with Endicott (72) and Framingham State (113) taking second and third, respectively.
In addition to the invite, the Rams raced for the inaugural Battle for Boston Commons, which pits Suffolk against its neighbor Emerson. In a heated head-to-head, the blue-and-gold edged the Lions, 27-28, to hoist the trophy in its first year.
The Rams now turn their attention to the GNAC Championships, which are on the calendar for Saturday, Oct. 29 at the SJC Course in Standish, Maine.