LOGAN TOWNSHIP, N.J. - The Haverford College women's cross country team, the 27th-ranked team in the nation, captured its first regional title in program history on Saturday afternoon at the Gloucester County DREAM Park. In a dominating effort, the Fords placed three runners within the top 10 to register a team score of 88, easily clear of second-place Swarthmore (102), to take the title in the newly-minted Metro Region.
The Fords posted a 1-2 finish in the race, with senior Izzy Miller taking the individual title in a personal-best 21:24.1, while senior Angie Petrichenko was second in 21:29, also a new personal record. Senior Griffin Kaulbach was the seventh finisher overall, crossing in 22:32.5.
Miller became Haverford's first individual regional champion since Meredith Unger in 1996 with her second individual meet victory at Rowan this season. Last month, Miller won the Rowan Border Battle in which ultimately served as a preview of the regional championship course. With finishes in the top 35, Miller, Petrichenko, and Kaulbach will all earn All-Region designation by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), the second consecutive season in which Haverford has had three All-Region designees. Kaulbach also earns the honor for the second consecutive campaign after a 14th place finish in the 2019 Mideast Regional. As this is Haverford's first appearance in the new regional, Kaulbach also becomes the first Haverford student-athlete to earn All-Region honors in two regions.
Just outside of the top 35 was Hannah Yeakey, as the senior crossed in 38th overall, with a time of 23:59.9. Senior Lauren Tanel was just behind in 40th place overall, taking a time of 24:04.3, while first years Krista Nichols (70th, 25:00.9) and Maya Holmes (71st, 26:05.6) rounded out the Haverford scorers on a blustery day in South Jersey.
By virtue of its regional championship, Haverford has qualified for the NCAA Division III Championship, which will be held on Saturday, November 20 in Louisville, Kentucky. The Fords will be making their first team appearance at the national meet since the 2017 season. The meet is slated to begin at 11 a.m. at Tom Sawyer Park in Louisville. A live video stream and live results from the meet will be made available next week.