The UConn women’s cross country team took first place at the 12th annual Bruce Kirsh Cross Country Cup on Friday afternoon, finishing over one minute and 19 placement points in front of Maine in second place.
The Huskies had four runners finish inside the top 10, including each of the top three runners in sophomores Calista Mayer and Allison McCarthy as well as freshman Claire Paci. Paci finished just 0.6 seconds ahead of Clark’s Ruby Krasnow to secure an all-Connecticut podium.
The Huskies ran five runners, all of whom placed inside the topm15. Junior Danielle Adams (22:42) and sophomore Jacqueline Izzo (23:07.5) finished seventh and 15th respectively, as Connecticut joined Maine to account for 10 of the top 15 finishers.
Mayer finished 10 seconds ahead of teammate McCarthy to secure first place in her breakout run in Hopkinton. Although not a personal record in the 6k, Mayer finished with an average mile time three seconds ahead of the field.
Sophomore McCarthy finished with a time of 22:08.9 in her second 6k run of the season, following up her Paul Short Invitational time of 21:55.4.
Paci finished third with a time of 22:16.4. As the lone freshman on the team, Paci’s development will be critical for the program’s future success. A podium finish in her fourth race with the program is a positive sign.
Junior Danielle Adams ran for the first time in 2024 after an eventful Big East Championships meet in May. She finished seventh with a time of 22:42, setting her personal record in the 6k.
Izzo finished just six seconds behind her personal best – which was set just a week prior at the Paul Short run – with a time of 23:07.5. The top 15 finish was the sophomore’s highest placement of the 2024 cross country season.
The Huskies will have a weeklong break before traveling to Madison, Wis. to compete in the Pre-Nationals Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 19. A season long tear across the east coast will be something UConn looks to take with them as they head west this weekend.