WESTFIELD, Mass. - Junior Cat Dacey finished 10th overall to lead the Union College women's cross country team to its best regional result in over three decades by finishing in 11th place at the NCAA Mideast Regional Championships, held on Saturday afternoon at Westfield State University's Stanley Park.
 
Union ended the day with a team score of 405, four points ahead of Springfield in 12th for the top spot amongst all regionally unranked programs competing at the Championships. It marked Union's best finish at the regional meet since placing ninth out of 18 teams in 1991. Only three times in program history (1991, 1987, 1981) has Union finished higher.
 
"Our women's team pulled out all the stops, and with some sickness and niggling injuries sprinkled about today, they still managed to perform at a high level, surprising even the coaches with such a high finish," said head coach Laura Nardelli.
 
Dacey's had a huge showing individually on Saturday, finishing the 6K course in a lifetime-best 21:34.8 to finish 10th out of 176 competitors and earn the first USTFCCCA All-Region honor in program history. As a result of her finish, Dacey also put herself in consideration for selection to the upcoming NCAA Div. III Championships, which would be another program first.
 
"Cat went out with the top group coming through the mile mark in 5:37, and hung with that group until the woods where the pack broke up," noted Nardelli. "She raced to a lifetime best on a rugged course, which can only be described as true cross country, with roots, rocks, and narrow wooded paths."
 
Junior Caroline Kelly was next to cross the finish line for the Garnet Chargers, doing so 83rd with a time of 23:34.1. First-year Annabel Dobash was next for Union, the first of a Garnet Chargers trio to finish within six spots of each other, wrapping up the 6k in 24:40. Just a few seconds behind Dobash was senior Allison Malatesta, who finished in 24:44.3, good for 110th, while senior Alayna Gibson completed the scoring quintet in 113th with a time of 24:48.5.
 
"Caroline, who has nursed an injury for the last two weeks, and Allie, who was coming off an illness, both showed grit and determination today. That was great motivation for the rest of our team," added Nardelli.
 
First-year Amelia Wagner wrapped up a fine performance by the program, finishing her first regional championship in 25:40.9.
 
A strong regional performance completes the fall season for the team, while Dacey awaits a possible individual selection to next week's national championship. The team will have two weeks off before the indoor track and field season opens December 2 at the Suffolk Relays.
 
Complete Union Results:
Cat Dacey - 21:34.8 (10th)
Caroline Kelly - 23:34.1 (83rd)
Annabel Dobash -24:40.0 (107th)
Allison Malatesta - 24:44.3 (110th)
Alayna Gibson - 24:48.5 (113th)
Amelia Wagner - 25:40.9 (136th)