STANDISH — Sophomore Alice Najimy (Pittsfield, Mass.) finished fourth for the second straight year to lead the Simmons University women’s cross country team to a sixth-place team finish at the Runnin’ Monks Invitational on the campus of Saint Joseph’s College in Standish.

Bates College first year Frieda Kickliter won the race with a time of 24:53.3, while Najimy clocked in at 25:20 to finish 16 seconds shy of third place in the six-kilometer race. Bates won the team championship with 17 points, while the Sharks scored 144 points.

Senior Gabby Freeman (Newnan, Ga.) placed 38th with a mark of 28:05.1 for Simmons, while junior Chloe O’Hara (Westminster, Mass.) turned in a season-best time of 28:17.1 to finish 39th.

First year Clare Thompson (Marshfield, Mass.) was the top-finishing newcomer for the Sharks with a time of 29:38 to place 51st, ahead of junior Elena Dickey (North Andover, Mass.), who placed 54th with a time of 29:41.9.

Simmons final three finishers on the day all placed one after another with first years Julia DiGiacomo (Franklin, Mass.) clocking in at 32:22.3 to place 81st and Kaitlyn Kessel (Lincolnville, Maine) finishing 82nd on a time of 32:29.3. Senior Amelia Franklin (Bath, Maine) was steps behind at 32:36.0 to finish 83rd.

The Sharks will run again on Saturday, October 19 when they compete in the Suffolk Invitational at 2:30 p.m. at historic Franklin Park in Dorchester, Mass.

Alan Wickström is the Director of Athletics Communications at Simmons University. 

Reach the sports department at: sports@penbaypilot.com.