SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The Union College women's cross country team placed third out of seven teams at the RPI Harvest Classic, held on Saturday at Pitney Meadows Farm.
 
Union took third place with 62 points, behind only Division I UAlbany and host RPI, and well ahead of fourth-place Plattsburgh State University.
 
Running on their first full-distance course of the fall, the Garnet Chargers had four runners finish in the top 20 as part of another encouraging performance to start the fall season.
 
Headlining the Union effort once again was junior Cat Dacey, who crushed her personal best by two minutes in taking second place among collegiate runners. Her time of 21:42.3 was good for fourth place overall in the 71-runner field.
 
Seniors Allison Malatesta and Gabby Gavala as well as junior Caroline Kelly all earned spots in the top-20 as well for Union. Malatesta came less than six seconds away from a spot in the top-10, traversing the course in 22:40.7 that was still good for eighth among collegiate competitors. Kelly finished in 23:04.7 to place 15th overall, followed by Gavala in 19th place after a time of 23:26.3.
 
First-year Amelia Wagner also continued to establish a consistent place in the top-five with a time of 24:15.2 that placed her 33rd overall.
 
Union will take next week off from competition before returning to the course on September 30 at the Paul Short Invitational, as the team tests its competitiveness in a large and challenging field.
 
Union Runners:
Cat Dacey – 21:42.3 (4th)
Allison Malatesta – 22:40.7 (11th)
Caroline Kelly – 23:26.3 (15th)
Gabby Gavala – 23:26.3 (19th)
Amelia Wagner – 24:15.2 (33rd)
Annabel Dobash – 24:55.4 (40th)
Emilie Rosecan – 25:01.4 (42nd)
Kasey McGerald – 25:33.3 (44th)
Ella McCarthy – 26:23.4 (51st)