SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (October 18, 2025) – WNE hosted the Western New England Invitational in sunny Springfield, Massachusetts, on Saturday morning. The women's team would place fifth out of 22 scoring teams, led by Olivia Kay and Fallon Lynch. The men's team would place fourth out of 19 scoring teams and was led by first-year phenom Lucas Franco.
Place:
Women's Team: 5th/22
Men's Team: 4th/19
How it Happened:
Women's 6k Race:
- The women's team was led by Olivia Kay once again. Kay picked up a career-best time of 24:31.29, which also placed Kay inside the top 25 women's 6k times in program history. Kay placed 21st in the invitational.
- Fallon Lynch also would earn a program top-25 women's 6k time, with a career-best 24:53.64. Lynch placed 24th overall in the invitational.
- Lia Pouliot placed third for WNE and 38th overall in the invitational. Pouliot finished with a time of 25:35.38.
- Nina Garofalo ran a time of 25:39.51 in her last home meet of her varsity cross country career. Garofalo placed 40th out of 175 runners in the 6k.
- Caitlin Reilly followed Garofalo with a season-best time of 25:53.13. Reilly placed fifth for WNE and 44th overall in the women's 6k.
- WNE placed fifth in the women's 6k out of 22 scoring teams. They accumulated 158 points.
Men's 8k Race:
- First-year standout runner, Lucas Franco, ran a top-15 time all-time in program history with a career-best 27:20.14 and placed 29th. Franco led the Golden Bears on their home course on Saturday.
- Joshua Farrell followed Franco with a time of 27:59.87 for Farrell's final time running the WNE home course as a varsity cross country runner. Farrell placed 41st out of 215 runners.
- Pablo Tapion was next through the finish line for WNE. Tapion finished with a season-best time of 28:23.50 and placed 47th in the 8k.
- Gianni Santagata placed 64th with a season-best time of 29:05.33. Santagata was the fourth finisher for WNE.
- Then, John Bieszczad finished fifth for WNE and 66th overall, with a season-best time of 29:07.03 as Bieszczad finished his final run on the home course with a bang.
- The men's team placed fourth out of 19 scoring teams in their final regular-season meet.
Up Next on the Schedule:
- The teams head to the postseason after today's triumphs. They will be in action on November 1, 2025, in Wenham, Massachusetts, taking on the Conference of New England Championships. The men will run at noon, and the women at 1:00 PM.
