KEENE, N.H., 10/2/10 – Running on her home course, Owl junior Paige Mills (Keene, N.H.) raced to a first place finish at the 16th Annual Keene State College Cross Country Invitational on Saturday.

Mills covered the 5K course in a winning time of 18:14.  She was 23 seconds ahead of Dartmouth's Katelyn Walker, who posted a time of 18:37. "I felt very comfortable and in control," said Mills. "I like the course and having everyone out cheering.  It gives me something to run for during the race."

Mills was the lone KSC varsity runner competing in the race.  Freshman Molly Metivier (Keene, N.H.) was the Owls' second finisher, placing 21st in a time of 21:05.  Other top freshman finishers for KSC included Nikki Leeman (Round Pond, Me.), who placed 23rd with a time of 21:13, Erin Crawford (Townsend, Mass.), who finished 26th with a time of 21:27, and Erin Duffy (Merrimack, N.H.), who placed 34th in a time of 21:52.

The Owl women finished third in the eight-team field with 93 points.  Dartmouth placed all five of its runners in the top-10 to take the women's team title with 21 points.

The Owls run next Saturday at the New England Championships at Boston's Franklin Park.