Sept. 14, 2012

PHILADELPHIA - The women's cross country team competed in the first-ever Friend Invitational on the course of the Belmont Plateau at West Fairmount Park on Friday afternoon. The 5K race, an inaugural run in honor of Roswell Friend, a member of the Temple cross country team who passed away in 2011, featured 25 runners from host Temple, Saint Joseph's, and La Salle. Saint Joseph's took third place in the contest.

A duo of Hawks finished in the top ten for Saint Joseph's. In her season debut, junior Emily Chappell led all Hawk runners with an individual fourth-place finish, posting an overall time of 20:51.38. This race marks the first time in Chappell's SJU career in which she has crossed the finish line first on the squad.

Classmate Darcy O'Connor placed ninth for Saint Joseph's, clocking in at a time of 21:19.43 to round out the top ten.

Sophomore Taylor Oskowiak (21:34.87) and freshman Erin O'Leary (21:41.36) placed 15th and 16th, respectively, for Saint Joseph's, separated by just six and a half seconds.

In the second meet of her first cross country season, junior Hannah Brown rounded out the top five for the Hawks, notching a final time of 23:14.51, good for a 23rd place finish.

For a complete list of all participants, click here.

The Hawks return to action on Friday, September 28, when they travel to Bethlehem, Pa. to compete in the prestigious Paul Short Invitational, a race that turned out 396 runners last season.