WESTFIELD, Mass. – Junior Nicole Major (Andover, Mass.) placed 11th out of a field of 167 runners to lead the Bridgewater State University women's cross country team at the 26th Annual James Earley Invitational hosted by Westfield State University on Saturday at Stanley Park.

The Bears placed eighth overall in the team standings. Smith College captured the team title followed by RPI in second place and host Westfield in third.

Major covered the five-kilometer course in a career-best time of 19:26.51 as she is the first Bear to break the 20-minute mark for a 5K race this season. Sophomore Anna-Louise Wildes (Portland, Maine) of Smith checked in with the winning time of 18:49.78.

Sophomore Lily Valcovic (East Taunton, Mass.) was the next Bear to cross the line. Valcovic posted a career-best time of 20:19.72 to finish 37th overall.

Senior Maura Bruns (Franklin, Mass.), freshman Janelle Murphy (Brockton, Mass.) and junior Elisabeth Sweeney (Marshfield, Mass.) capped off Bridgewater's top five runners at the meet, Bruns recorded a time of 20:31.80 to finish 48th, while Murphy posted a time of 21:20.07 to place 76th at the meet. Sweeney placed 88th overall as she crossed the line in a time of 21:43.26.

The BSU cross country teams are off until Saturday, October 29th when the Bears compete at the MASCAC Championships hosted by Westfield State at Stanley Park.