Fairfield University’s men’s and women’s cross country teams are heading into the Ted Owen Invitational at Stanley Quarter Park in New Britain on Sept. 20 with momentum and rising confidence. The meet comes on the heels of a strong performance at the Jasper Fall XC Invitational on Sept. 13, giving both squads valuable experience and benchmarks as they prepare for the heart of the fall season.
The women’s team has looked sharp through two races, beginning with a second-place finish at the Marist Season Opener. Mia Strazzella ‘27 led the charge, clocking 18:54.7 in the 5K, for second overall. She was supported by Sophie Cheesman ‘28 in fifth, Bridget Reidy ‘29 in seventh, Taylor Partridge ‘29 in 12th, and Carlina Castro ‘28 in 14th, giving the Stags 40 points and placing them just behind Marist. Strazzella reflected on the runner-up finish as a major confidence boost. “It is always nice to see the hard work from the summer and previous seasons pay off,” she said. “I still have a ways to go this season, but I started in a better position than last year, which is always exciting and a good first step.”
At Jasper, the women continued to impress, finishing fifth overall out of 15 teams and placing ahead of several MAAC rivals. Fairfield was led by Hannah Snayd ‘28, who placed third individually, with Strazzella, Reidy, Partridge, and Castro all contributing solid finishes. The women now set their sights on cracking the top three at Ted Owen, where the field is expected to be deep and competitive. In 2024, more than a dozen Division I programs lined up, including several perennial MAAC contenders. That type of environment allows Fairfield to sharpen its pack running against some of the best in the region. Strazzella emphasized the importance of the next step for the team, saying, “Everyone on the team has been working very hard, and we already saw a huge improvement in the first race compared to last year. A top-three finish would really set us up for the rest of the season.”
The men’s team has also shown encouraging growth in the early season. First-year Harrison Caprara made an immediate impact at the Marist Season Opener, covering the 6K course in 19:32.4 to place 12th overall and second among Fairfield runners. His debut established him as a dependable presence near the front of the Stags’ lineup. At the Jasper Invitational one week later, the men moved up to the longer 8K distance and competed against a field of 16 teams and 179 runners. Ryan Lindley ’26 led the Stags with a time of 26:00, good for 34th place overall, while Chase Orciuch ’27 (26:06), George Hohenleitner ‘28 (26:11), and Bryce Robinson ‘28 (26:46) all finished within 46 seconds of Lindley. Kyle Haskell ‘29 rounded out the scoring five with a 26:57, placing inside the top 85. That pack effort allowed Fairfield to secure seventh place as a team, finishing ahead of conference opponents Quinnipiac, Manhattan, Sacred Hear,t and Saint Peter’s.
With their top five running within less than a minute of each other, the Stags demonstrated both depth and balance, an improvement from past seasons where the scoring spread was often larger. For the Stag men, Saturday provides an early chance to climb higher than their middle-of-the-pack projection in the MAAC coaches’ poll. The Ted Owen field traditionally features 15–20 programs, making depth essential. With their new compact scoring group, Fairfield enters with the type of balance that can translate well to a crowded race at Stanley Quarter Park.
For Caprara, the early transition to college-level training has been demanding but rewarding. “There are so many guys who can push you to the next level,” he said, describing the competitive practice environment. His exciting early performance has given Fairfield another strong scorer, and though only a freshman, his work ethic and competitiveness have positioned him as an emerging leader within the program.
Stanley Quarter Park, the site of the Ted Owen Invitational, is a staple course in New England cross country. The women’s 5K and men’s 8K routes feature rolling terrain, a few grinding inclines, and a finishing stretch that rewards strong closing speed. It’s a course that has tested MAAC teams for years, with lineups often featuring regional powers like Central Connecticut, UMass, Maris,t and Army. The large and competitive fields make Ted Owen a reliable early-season benchmark, a chance for Fairfield to measure up not just against conference rivals, but against quality programs from across the Northeast.
With Strazzella anchoring the women’s lineup and Caprara emerging on the men’s side, the Stags enter New Britain determined to prove that their early-season promise can translate into results.
