WALTHAM, Mass. – The Bentley women's and men's cross country teams are ready for Saturday's NCAA Division II East Regional competition at the Hopkinton State Fairgrounds in Hopkinton, New Hampshire.

The women's team was sixth at the NE10s, a jump of four spots from 2022 and their best finish since 2017.

Junior Caitlin Burmester was the first Falcon to cross the line, in fifth. She improved by 22 spots from last season's NE10s and was named first team All-Conference. She has been Bentley's top runner at each meet this season.

Molly Capece has had a standout freshman season for the Falcons. She's been the team's second finisher at each race this season. At the NE10s she ran the 6K course in 23:54.80.

Right behind her was junior Brooke Neri as the two Falcons finished back-to-back.

The men's team is coming off a fourth-place finish at the NE10 Championship two weekends ago, their best finish since 2016.

Junior Sam Capobianco finished sixth to earn All-Conference honors. He's been the Falcons' top runner in the last three meets, which included an eight-place finish at the New England's on October 7.

Senior Cole Duval was Bentley's next best finisher at the NE10s. He was their top runner at the season opening Suffolk Classic and was the NE10 Men's Athlete of the Week.

Matt Chicko also ran well at the NE10s with a top-30 finish.

"We're looking forward to competing this weekend in New Hampshire," said head coach Kevin Curtin. "It's looking to be a great day to race. The goals for both teams are the same, to finish in the top 10 and to place runners on the All-East Region team (top 25)."

Live results can be found at https://www.lancertiming.com/