SALISBURY, Md. -- Redshirt sophomore Colleen Gilbert (Willow Street, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) nearly pulled off a victory against a swarm of runners from Division I Navy, before ultimately taking third at Saturday morning's season-opening Salisbury University Fall Classic. Gilbert was one of four Golden Bears in the top 10 as the Kutztown University women's cross country team brought home a runner-up finish.
 
The Golden Bears and Mids battled for supremacy at the head of the field, each team putting four runners in the top eight as the race neared its conclusion. Gilbert came across the line 22:53.3, just seven-tenths of a second off the 6,000-meter winning pace of Sophie Compton (22:52.5). Compton was followed by teammate Lauren Moore at 22:52.6.
 
Also showing great form in her collegiate debut was fellow redshirt sophomore Madeline Barney (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills), who placed fifth in 22:58.8. Juniors Sophia Knerr (Columbia, N.J./North Warren Regional) and Jaelyn D'Amelio (Manahawkin, N.J./Southern Regional) also ran inside the top 10, finishing back-to-back in seventh and eighth. Knerr, who matched her best ever finish, clocked in at 23:06.9 and D'Amelio registered her second career top 10 finish at 23:08.0.
 
Navy captured the team title with 22 points, with its fifth scoring runner, Charlene Huang finishing ninth. Erika Moriarty (Kutztown, Pa./Kutztown) completed the Maroon and Gold's scoring contingent with a 20th-place finish overall in 23:42.3. Kutztown totaled 41 points on the day.
 
Freshman Deandra Young (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) took 27th in her first race as a Golden Bear with a time of 24:07.6 and Mya Ostermiller (Red Bank, N.J./Middletown South) posted a top 30 in 29th (24:14.4). Julianna Elsesser (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) set a new 6k PR with a 24:43.2 in 39th and Ava Bendetti (Breinigsville, Pa./Parkland) was 42nd in the field of 107 competitors (25:00.1).
 
Following Navy and Kutztown in the team standings were host Salisbury in third, Rowan in fourth and DeSales in fifth.
 
Kutztown will be idle next weekend before hosting the DII/DIII Challenge Friday, Sept. 16, at 5:45 p.m.
 

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SALISBURY FALL CLASSIC
Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022 | WinterPlace Park | Salisbury, Md.
6,000-meters | 107 runners

KUTZTOWN RESULTS
TEAM: 2nd/9 (41 pts.)

3. Colleen Gilbert (Willow Street, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg), 22:53.3, 3 pts. (3)
5. Madeline Barney (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills), 22:58.8, 5 pts. (8)
7. Sophia Knerr (Columbia, N.J./North Warren Regional), 23:06.9, 7 pts. (15)
8. Jaelyn D'Amelio (Manahawkin, N.J./Southern Regional), 23:08.0, 8 pts. (23)
20. Erika Moriarty (Kutztown, Pa./Kutztown), 23:42.3, 18 pts. (41)
27. Deandra Young (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg), 24:07.6, debut
29. Mya Ostermiller (Red Bank, N.J./Middletown South), 24:14.4
39. Julianna Elsesser (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland), 24:43.2, career-best 6k
42. Ava Bendetti (Breinigsville, Pa./Parkland), 25:00.1