BOSTON, MA -- Leah Miller (Thomaston, CT/Thomaston) finished first out of 162 runners with a time of 19:39 in leading the Lynx women to a first place finish out of 17 teams at Friday's Saints Invitational.

"Today was a huge leap for the Lesley cross country program," said head coach Dan Flynn. "Leah Miller asserted herself as one of top runners in the Division III in the Northeast."

Miller was one of six Lynx to finish in the top 25, with senior Elize McKelvey (Baltimore, OH/Fairfield Union) finishing in fifth at 20:54, junior Kat Vicino (Mattapoisett, MA/Old Rochester) coming in at 12th at 21:31, junior Keryn Thorvaldsen (Sayville, NY/Sayville) following in 15th at 21:39, sophomore Ana Lutkevich (Mansfield, MA/Mansfield) finishing 18th at 21:45 and junior Noa Kupfer (Woodbridge, CT/Amity Regional) coming in 22nd at 22:02.

Despite the first place finish, Flynn sees even more potential for his team.

"We are a strong team with plenty more improvements to make," he said. "Our goal is to finish in the top 20 of NCAA, and today we proved that we can be there."

The Lynx men finished 3rd out of 16 teams, with Kyle Casiglio (Shelton, CT/Shelton) pacing a trio of Lynx in the top 25 in seventh at 27:58 for the 5k course. Chris Conforti (Brattleboro, NH/Union) finished 12th at 28:48, and freshman Even Reseska (Holliston, MA/Holliston) came in 23rd at 29:05.

"It was a very gutsy performance the whole men's team," Flynn said.  "Driving rain and muddy patches make it tough, and we ran through it all with no problem."

"These guys are starting become a dominant force. I can't wait to see how they respond to a tough NECC Championship race."

Flynn will get to find out, but he'll have to wait 15 days. Both of his defending champion Lynx teams travel to Mine Falls Park in Henniker, NH for the NECC Championship on Saturday, October 29.