WALTHAM, Mass. – Seniors Conor Higgins (Randolph, N.J./Randolph HS) and Ashley Nichols (Kenmore, Wash./Inglemoor HS) have been named captains of the 2013 Bentley University men's and women's cross country teams, head coach Kevin Curtin announced.

Higgins is the only returnee from last year's men's top seven, a group that finished second in the NCAA Division II East Region and earned a trip to the NCAA Championships. He was the team's number seven runner in both the Northeast-10 Championships (57th overall) and the regional (65th overall), the number five man in the New Englands and number six at the nationals.

Nichols has been in Bentley's top three in every race she's ran, with just one exception, since her arrival on campus in the fall of 2010. She's twice earned All-Northeast-10 honors (second team as a sophomore, third team as a freshman) and last year, placed 29th in the NCAA East Regional and 30th in the conference championships.

"Conor and Ashley were named captains of their respective teams because they possess many of the same qualities," said Curtin. "They both are dependable and hard-working, and they take the time to do the extra things to stay healthy. They both encourage and challenge their teammates to do the same, and both bring a sense of humor to the position to help make cross country practice an enjoyable part of the day."

Bentley opens the season Sept. 7 with the Shacklette Invitational at Saint Anselm College.