Emily Bryson and #22 Brandeis women stay unbeaten on the season

Emily Bryson '19 (Photo by Sportspix)
Emily Bryson '19 (Photo by Sportspix)

BRUNSWICK, Maine – The 22nd-ranked Brandeis University women's cross country team remained undefeated on the season, as did senior Emily Bryson (Quincy, Mass./North Quincy) as the Judges bested 18 other squads in their first 6-kilometer race of the season, the Bowdoin College Invitational.

Bryson covered the race in 21:37.7 to win by nearly 30 seconds over Colby's Sophia Gorman. The meet's third-place finisher was Julia Bryson, twin sister of Emily, who posted a time of 22:16.3. Rookie Jac Guerra (Guilford, Conn. / Guilford) made it three Judges among the top six with a time of 22:38.5, which ranked sixth. Junior Danielle Bertaux (Prides Crossing, Mass. / Beverly) came in fourth for the Judges by taking 11th place with a time of 23:07, while sophomore Niamh Kenney (Hanover, Mass. / Hanover) rounded out the Brandeis scorers in 18th place with a time of 23:24.7. Brandeis edged #26 Bates in the team standings, 39 to 43 points. The Judges will return to this course in October for the NCAA New England Regionals.

On the men's side, Brandeis placed sixth out of 19 squads over an eight-kilometer course. The Judges were led by the tandem of sophomore Josh Lombardo (Westbrook, Maine / Westbrook) and rookie Matthew Driben (Reading, Pa. / Wyomissing). The duo placed 19th and 20th overall in the standings. Lombardo crossed the finish line in 26:37.7, while Driben was less than two seconds behind in 26:39.4.

Junior Dan Curley (Norwood, Mass. / Norwood) was 40th in the standings with a time of 27:02.9. Another pairing rounded out the Brandeis scorers, as juniors Alec Rogers (Wakefield, Mass. / Wakefield Memorial) and Jacob Judd (West Hartford, Conn. / Conard) finished 68th and 69th with marks of 28:00.2 and 28:04.0. As a team, Brandeis finished with 176 points, 42 behind fifth-place Southern Maine and 18 ahead of the University of New England.

The Judges return to action in two weeks at two separate meets. The men and a portion of the women's team will compete at the Connecticut College Invitational. The top Brandeis women will head to Wisconsin at a preview meet of the NCAA Championships.