Liam MacKenzie – Treasurer/Sports Editor
Smithfield, RI – The starting line was crowded, the runners were ready and the opening gun sent the field charging onto the course. Merrimack women’s cross country opened its 2026 season at the Shawn M. Nassaney Invitational on September 12 in Smithfield, Rhode Island, competing in a 5K against Rhode Island, Bryant, Stonehill, and Rhode Island College.
Leading the Pack: Merrimack’s Top Five – Graduate student Maci Chapman led the way for the Warriors, finishing fourth overall with a time of 18:31.3. Chapman stayed near the front of the field and gave Merrimack an early boost as the Warriors looked to make an impact in their season opener.
Lily Thomas followed closely behind, taking sixth overall in 18:40.0, while Caroline White finished eighth in 18:42.5. The pair gave Merrimack three runners inside the overall top eight and helped establish a strong presence near the front of the race.
Inside the Top 10: Thomas and White Lead the Charge – Thomas and White were separated by just 2.5 seconds, with both runners recording strong opening performances for the Warriors. Their finishes helped Merrimack stay within the top group as the race continued.
The Warriors also had Avaline Fihlman close behind the top 10, giving Merrimack another runner within striking distance of the leaders. Fihlman crossed the finish line in 11th place with a time of 18:48.3.
Just Outside the Top 10: Fihlman Keeps Merrimack in the Mix – Fihlman’s 11th-place finish continued Merrimack’s strong start, as the Warriors had four runners finish within the overall top 11. Her time of 18:48.3 kept her within the overall top 11. Her time of 18:48.3 kept her within the lead pack and added another strong performance to Merrimack’s team effort.
With several Warriors finishing near the front of the field, Merrimack remained competitive throughout the opening 5K. The early-season performance showed the team’s ability to race together and put multiple runners in strong positions.
Squeaking Into the Top 30: Ponzio, Guckian and Kay – Further back in the field, Kristina Ponzio finished 27th overall with a time of 19:23.2. Olivia Guckian followed in 28th at 19:29.3, while Marianna Kay finished 29th in 19:29.9.
The three Warriors finished within seven seconds of one another, giving Merrimack a tight group toward the back end of the top 30. Their finishes added to the team’s depth as Merrimack secured a runner-up finish in its first meet of the season.
A Strong Start to 2026 – Merrimack’s opening meet featured strong performances from the front of the pack, with Chapman leading the Warriors in fourth and Thomas and White also finishing inside the top eight. With runners continuing to contribute throughout the field, Merrimack walked away from its season opener with a second-place finish and plenty to build on moving forward.
