BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Boston University women's cross country team concluded its season on Friday morning at the NCAA Northeast Regional, hosted by the University at Buffalo.
 
BU placed 14th in the 37-team field with a score of 378 points. The Terriers were the top Patriot League team at the 6K race, as the 2019 conference champions bested Army West Point (401 points), Holy Cross (548) and Colgate (862).
 
The Terriers were without reigning Patriot League champion Abigail Gugel, who was held out for precautionary reasons due to injury.

"I felt like it was in her best interest from a track standpoint to have her sit out," head coach Paul Spangler said. "We knew it would hurt us from a team standpoint, but long term it was the best decision."

With Gugel out, freshman Andrea Claeson stepped up and led BU with a 29th-place performance. She crossed the finish line in 20:21.0 in one of her best races of the season.

"Andrea didn't have the best race at the Patriot League Championship, but for her to come out today to have the performance she did was great to see."

Reigning Patriot League Rookie of the Year Sophia Jacobs-Townsley placed 39th with a time of 20:37.0, followed by junior Corrine Batsu (20:41.3) in 44th.

"I thought our top three did a great job," Spangler said. "This certainly bodes well for the future. It was great experience for them today."
 
Freshman Joceline Wind (21:25.6) and junior Veronica Kriss (22:21.6) rounded out the Terrier scorers. Sophomore Stephanie Casaletto (22:44.8) and junior Laura Parkinson (23:01.8) also completed the course.

Friday's meet concludes a successful season for the Terriers. The program won three races this season, including the conference championship. Four Terriers earned All-Patriot League honors, with three of those runners expected back next season.

"We accomplished a majority of our goals this year," Spangler said. "We won the Patriot League title and boasted the individual champion and top rookie. I'm proud of what they did and I'm excited to see the program grow. If we can build upon this, we can be in a position to get athletes to NCAAs. We can come back here next year with a goal of getting into the top five and the ultimate goal of getting into nationals."

The Terriers will now turn their attention to the indoor track & field schedule, which begins on Saturday, Dec. 7, with the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener at the Track and Tennis Center.

"We're feeling great going into the indoor season," Spangler said.