HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Haverford College women's cross country team checked in at No. 26 in the latest United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Poll with 86 voting points. This poll represents the second straight week Haverford has been recognized nationally as the Fords were No. 25 a week ago.
Haverford's one spot drop in the polls comes despite the team's second straight team victory in as many weeks. The Fords ran to a first place finish during the white race at the Paul Short Invitational at Lehigh University last Saturday to top the field of 43 teams. Three of Haverford's top four finishers set personal bests in the race for the 6,000 meter distance. The win came despite the team running without the services of Nora Weathers as she had competed in the previous two weekends.
The Fords vaulted in the national rankings after their first place showing in the long race at the Dickinson Long/Short Invitational during their final weekend of September. Haverford has placed four runners among the top 14 individual finishers in each of its last two contested meets.
Haverford did bump up one slot in the regional rankings during the latest rating period. Sitting third in the Mideast Region, the Fords are behind No. 1 Johns Hopkins and rival Swarthmore. Swarthmore is No. 19 in the latest rankings. Dickinson (No. 30 in the national poll) and Misericordia (receiving votes) round out the top five teams in the region.
After racing during each of the past three weekends, women's cross country will have the upcoming week away from competition. The Fords return to action next Saturday, October 17 at the Rowan Inter-Regional meet. The women's race will start at 10 a.m. that day.