WALTHAM, Mass. – Following her outstanding performance in Sunday's NCAA Division II East Regional, Bentley University freshman Tara Dooley (Lee/Lee HS) has been named the Women's Cross Country Rookie of the Week in the Northeast-10 Conference. It's the third time this season she's received the honor.

Dooley, who previously was cited as the NE-10 Rookie of the Year and as a first-team All-Conference honoree, was one of four Bentley runners to earn All-Region honors. She covered the 6,000-meter Franklin Park course in 21:58.7, placing second to two-time regional champion Jeptui Cherutich of American International.

Dooley didn't run track or cross country in high school but has had a major impact on the Falcons' success this fall.  Bentley finished second in both the Northeast-10 and NCAA Division II East Regional championships, is ranked 25th nationally in Division II and has earned a first-ever trip to the NCAA Division II Championships (Spokane, Wash., Nov. 19).

In her earlier races this fall, Dooley was 28th overall in the New England Championships and second in the conference championships.