NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. – Bentley University women's cross country co-captain Caitlin Fahey (Bridgewater/ Coyle-Cassidy HS) launched her senior year with a strong performance in the UMass-Dartmouth Shriners' Invitational Saturday.

Fahey finished ninth overall, in a field of 293 runners, with a time of 18:47.15 over the 5,000-meter course.

Fahey actually ran further than the required distance as she was part of the lead pack that went off course, and Bentley coach Kevin Curtin estimates that cost her between 20 and 30 seconds. She was in sixth or seventh at the time, returned to the course in about 20th, and worked her way back into the top ten.

Her efforts helped Bentley finish 11th out of 38 teams with a score of 345.

Junior Ashley Nichols (Kenmore, Wash./Inglemoor HS) also had a solid season debut for the Falcons, placing 36th overall in 19:22.50. The other two Falcons in the top 100 were junior Leah Schiller (Tipp City, Ohio/Tippecanoe HS) and freshman Sarah Brennan (Quincy/Notre Dame Academy). Schiller was 98th in 20.19.60, and Brennan trailed her by one place and 1.81 seconds.

MIT dominated the meet with five of the top seven runners, a list headed by individual champion Brooke Johnson. She broke the tape about five seconds before runner-up and teammate Sarah Quinn crossed the line.

Next Saturday, Bentley will run at the Central Connecticut State Invitational.

UMASS-DARTMOUTH SHRINERS' INVITATIONAL

At North Dartmouth 

Team Standings: 1. MIT 17, 2. Rowan 141, 3. Wellesley 192, 4. Coast Guard 223, 5. Bryant 232, 5. Brandeis 232, 7. WPI 236; 8. Connecticut College 298, 9. Westfield State 315, 10. Saint Anselm 319, 11. Bentley 345.  (Total of 38 teams). 

Top Individuals: 1. Brooke Johnson, MIT, 18:25; 2. Sarah Quinn, MIT, 18:30; 3. Elaine McVay, 18:34; 4. Martina de Geus, MIT, 18:37; 5. Victoria Hewey, WPI, 18:38. 

Bentley Varsity Runners: 9. Caitlin Fahey, 18:47.15; 36. Ashley Nichols 19:22.50; 98. Leah Schiller, 20:19.60; 99. Sarah Brennan, 20:21.41; 127. Samantha Albanese, 20:42.44; 177. Nikki Sirignano, 21:16.22. 

Bentley JV Runners: 64. Dusty Rose Sacco, 21:31.28; 77. Emily Normandin, 21:53.37; 79. Brittany Baudier, 21:55.27; 83. Alix Pettinella, 21:57.84; 105. Arianne Bourgault, 22:27.66; 123. Heather Hallstrom, 22:58.63