HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College women's cross country team has made a habit of performing well at the Centennial Conference championship with top-three finishes in each of the last 10 seasons. The 2012 squad, ranked 14th in the country, has added incentive to continue that tradition as the Fords host the conference championship for the first time in program history.
The freshmen duo of Nora Weathers and Fiona Hendry has led the way for a Haverford squad that has grown in confidence and experience throughout the season. Picked third in the conference and 27th nationally in preseason polls, head coach Fran Rizzo's team has risen gradually in the national rankings due to several impressive performances. Weathers was the first of the Fords, and second Division III runner overall, to cross the line at the Main Line Invitational on Sept. 20 as she placed 14th in 17 minutes, 43.20 seconds. A little over a week later, Weathers finished sixth (23:34.7) and Hendry followed in ninth (23:50) to help Haverford to a first-place finish in the long course portion of the Dickinson Invitational hosted by Dickinson College. Finally, Weathers (43rd, 22:41) and Hendry (59th, 22:58) capped the regular season by going 1-2 for the Fords at the Princeton Invitational as Haverford was the top D-III finisher.
Sophomore Katie Balmer and senior co-captains Sara Hess and Andrea Tocci have provided the Fords consistent finishers in spots three through five. Balmer finished right behind Hendry at Dickinson (10th, 23:57.3) and crossed the line concurrently with Hendry at Princeton (60th, 22:58). Hess' and Tocci's veteran experience has proved to be a valuable commodity for the youthful Haverford roster. Finishing fourth on the squad at Dickinson (12th, 24:00), and fifth at Princeton (71st, 23:05), Hess provided points to aid the Fords' strong finishes. Tocci, a second-team all conference performer in 2011, capped Haverford's scoring places at Princeton with a time of 23:10 (78th).
Keep an eye also on juniors Emily Scott (2011 first-team all-conference honoree), Chelsea Thorsheim and Flora Berklein. Scott's season-best effort led the Fords across the line at Dickinson (fifth, 23:33.6) while Thorsheim and Berklein have been solid throughout the 2012 campaign.
The road to the championship will not be easy as describing the field as strong would be a severe understatement. The championship race will feature three teams that currently reside in the top-15 of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) D-III national ranking in Johns Hopkins University (second), Haverford (14th) and Dickinson College (15th). A closer look reveals that five of the 11 squads competing are ranked in the top seven of the Mideast Region -- Johns Hopkins (first), Haverford (second), Dickinson (third), Gettysburg College (sixth) and Muhlenberg College (seventh).
Rizzo points out that the Blue Jays, as the nation's second-ranked team, look to be the favorite on paper but one never knows what can happen in the spotlight of the conference stage. In his 23rd year at the helm, Rizzo likes his squad's chances as the differential of the scoring finishers has dwindled to 29 seconds over the course of the regular season slate.
Recognizing that the adrenaline will be flowing with the opportunity to host the race on a modified version of Alumni Course, Rizzo hopes the Fords do not get too excited. There will be time for excitement when the Fords hopefully occupy the top step of the podium at the conclusion of Saturday's race.
The women's championship race begins at noon. A combined junior varsity race of men and women will follow at 12:45 p.m.