SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.—Joanna Friesen (Sellersville, PA, Sellersville) finshed 18^th overall to lead the Highlander women's cross country team to a sixth place finish at the Empire 8 Championship on Saturday.

In the men's race, Charles Easttey (Waterloo, NY, Waterloo) finished 42^nd overall to lead the men to an eight place finish.

Friesen's time of 19:03 in the 5k lead her team while Cara Davenport (Salem, NJ, Salem), 20:06 and Ella Hotchkiss (Fillmore, NY, Fillmore), 20:38 raced 29^th and 35^th overall. 

"We fell a tad short of our goal, on the women's side, losing to Utica for 5th place by just 4 points. We beat them pretty handily at Hamilton a few weeks back, so that was tough to swallow. Last year the women were 7th, so we moved up a spot and that's a good accomplishment. One thing we do know is that our women put it all out there every time they toe the line," said Coach Hager.

Easttey finished the 8k course in 29:34.  Jonathan Lewis (Tonawanda, NY, N. Tonawanda) was 43^rd in 29:36, while Aaron Eisenhardt (Columbus, MI, Lutheran North) was 45^th in 29:52.

Coach Hager said, "Our top group of men were instructed to run as a pack through mile two, and they did just that, but for the entire race. There is strength in a pack, and I was proud to see them push each other like that. We had a tough fall from 4th to 8th, but it's good motivation for the guys, and myself to get the program back to that point."

The teams will close out their campaigns at the NCCAA National Championship on November 15^th at 11:00am on Houghton's Field of Dreams.