Kingsville, Md. – For the second consecutive year, UMBC senior Sophia Cologer (Annapolis, Md./Broadneck) placed fifth at the America East Cross Country Championships in a meet held at Jerusalem Mill on Oct.  30.

Cologer became UMBC's second women's competitor to earn back-to-back all-conference honors in 14 years of league competition. Sara Parkinson placed ninth and sixth in 2008 and 2009 respectively for the Retrievers.

A 2015 America East All-Academic performer, Cologer crossed the tape at 17:17.1, less than two seconds out of third place. UNH's Elinor Purrier set a conference championship record as she bested the outstanding field by nearly 34 seconds, coming in at 16:27.1.

Cologer paced UMBC to a fifth-place finish. Behind Purrier, UNH edged Stony Brook, 45-47, for the team title. UMass Lowell placed third (67), followed by Vermont (89) and UMBC (105). The Retrievers enjoyed a wide edge over sixth-place finisher Albany (183).

Two other Retriever finished in the top 20. Senior Katelyn Callaghan (Downingtown, Pa.) crossed the 5k course in a time of 18:08.6, good for 18th position, while junior Olivia Richter (Oxford, Conn.) took 20th place in 18:09.7.  

Cologer and the Retrievers will compete in the  NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals at Penn State on Fri., Nov. 11.