HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Haverford College women's cross country team moved to its highest national ranking of the year following a fourth place finish at the Rowan Inter-Regional Border Battle over the weekend. The Fords climbed six spots in these week's poll and are now ranked 24th. Haverford garnered a total of 88 voting points in what was the sixth regular season poll release by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
At Rowan, the Fords were paced once again by their three seniors as Katie Sullivan, Nicole Giannetti, and Amelia Keyser-Gibson were all among the top 20 finishers in a field of 239 entrants. Sullivan led Haverford to the finish line for the first time this season with a ninth place showing overall. Two first years, Hannah Doll and Hannah Yeakey rounded out Haverford's scoring runners. The only teams to defeat the Fords were Johns Hopkins, Otterbein, and Dickinson. Those schools are ranked first, 11th, and 16th, respectively, in this week's rankings. Haverford did secure wins over WPI and Carnegie Mellon. WPI is ranked No. 31 this week while Carnegie Mellon is also receiving votes.
The Mideast Region continues to have four teams ranked nationally with the preseason order yet to change after more head-to-head competition at Rowan. Aforementioned Johns Hopkins and Dickinson hold the top spots in the regions to go along with their first and 16th place rankings this week. Elizabethtown fell two spots to No. 22 and is currently just two positions ahead of the Fords as the postseason approaches.
Women's cross country will now have the upcoming weekend away from competition as the Fords prepare to go head-to-head with some of the nation's best at the Centennial Conference Championships on Sunday, October 29. The women's championship race will begin at 12 p.m. this year with Gettysburg serving as the official host of the conference championship meet.