NEWARK, N.J. (October 10, 2026) – The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) women's cross country team turned in an impressive performance at the 22nd Annual NJIT Cross Country Invitational on Saturday, finishing second overall in the Women's Open 5K race at Branch Brook Park. The Tigers recorded six season-best performances, including five collegiate personal bests, in a competitive field featuring NCAA Division II and III programs.

FIT totaled 59 points to finish second among 10 scoring teams, trailing only NCAA Division III Drew University, which won the event with 29 points. Delaware TC rounded out the top three with 89 points.

Freshman Mayelie Mena led the Tigers with a third-place overall finish, completing the 5K course in a collegiate-best time of 20:01.3. Mena shaved nearly two and a half minutes off her previous best of 22:30.7, set at the Queensborough Cross Country Invitational on October 4.

Sophomore Anika Selover followed closely behind, placing fourth overall in 20:05.0. Selover established a new collegiate personal best, improving upon her previous mark of 20:50.6 set at the 2025 NJIT XC Challenge. The duo's top-four finishes helped propel FIT to its runner-up team result.

Sophomore Elsa Marigliano continued the Tigers' strong showing, placing 17th overall with a season-best time of 21:35.2. Marigliano improved her previous season-best mark by more than 85 seconds after recording a 23:01.0 finish at the Queensborough Invitational just six days earlier.

Freshman Hermione Granger finished 25th overall in a collegiate-best 22:39.0, improving her previous mark by more than a minute. Sophomore Ada Sylvester rounded out FIT's five scoring runners, placing 34th overall in a collegiate-best 23:58.1, surpassing her previous best of 24:39.8 established in 2025.

Freshman Alice Bennion also delivered a notable performance, finishing 46th overall in 25:38.5. Bennion recorded the largest improvement among the Tigers' returning Queensborough competitors, cutting nearly three minutes off her previous mark of 28:27.3.

The Tigers' five scoring runners combined for a total time of 1:48:18, averaging 21:39 across the 5K distance.