NECC’s cross country teams are off to the National Championships next weekend.

Both the men’s and women’s cross country teams from Northern Essex Community College will be represented for the second consecutive year at the NJCAA National Championships being held at Stanley Park in Westfield, MA on Saturday November 3rd.

The men who finished third at last week’s Northeast Junior College Invitational will send a full scoring team to the championship led by Logan Foster of Atkinson, NH, who finished fourth at last week’s junior college meet in a time of 29:55 for 8,000 meters. Earlier in the season Foster ran a time of 29:45 on the Stanley Park course. Emil Rosario of Methuen was also amongst the medalists with his 15th place finish in last week’s JC Northeast Invitational in a time of 33:10.

Expected to compete with Foster and Rosario at the national championship will be Jacob Navabi of Haverhill, Willie Thomson of Beverly, and Andy Barrientos of Lawrence.

On the women’s side Olivia Mullins of Plaistow, NH and Katelyn Richardson Wilmington will represent the Knights as individuals. For Mullins, who finished 6th at last weekend’s Northeast Junior College Invitational in a 5k time of 23:46, it will mark her second consecutive trip to compete at the national championship where she finished 52nd a season ago.

Richardson will be making her first trip to the cross country nationals as she finished 11th at last week’s meet in a time of 25:04. While it will be the first appearance for Richardson at the cross country nationals she did compete last spring in the high jump at the track and field nationals.

NECC competes as a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and sponsors nine varsity intercollegiate sports including baseball, men’s basketball, golf, softball, women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s cross country and men’s and women’s track and field. For more information on NECCl athletics please visit the official website of Northern Essex Athletics.