GALLOWAY, N.J. – The Haverford College women's cross country team earned a strong seventh-place finish out of 25 teams at the 2024 NCAA Division III Metro Region Championship, held Saturday morning at the North Athletic Complex. The event was hosted by Metro Region rival Stockton University.

The Fords improved on their 11th-place result from 2023, tallying 189 points and placing every runner in the top 100 finishers. 

Leading the way for Haverford was Alice Sappenfield, who built upon her impressive 2023 Metro Region Championship performance by finishing 29th in 23:28.0. Her efforts earned her a second consecutive USTFCCCA All-Metro Region honor. Anastasia Jaycobs also picked up an All-Region certificate, setting a new personal best in the 6k with a time of 23:41.4 to secure 34th place. In her Metro Region Championship debut, sophomore Grace Chen placed just outside the All-Region cutoff in 38th, with a time of 23:45.7.

Competing in her final Metro Region Championship, team captain Dominique La Grenade closed out her cross country career with a personal best, finishing 43rd in 24:01.8. Senior Julianna Watson also capped off her last Metro Region Championship with a 55th-place finish, completing the 6k course in 24:24.2. Junior Savannah Shaw (61st, 24:32.5) and senior Krysta Nichols (81st, 25:11.6) rounded out the Scarlet and Black contingent on Saturday. 

Rowan University claimed the Metro Region title with 81 points, while Swarthmore finished second with 86 points. TCNJ took third with 99 points.

The individual Metro Region champion was Tara Smurla of Moravian, followed by Gabriella Nye of Widener in second and Dale Leonard of Ramapo in third.

The 2024 women's cross country season has officially concluded with the Metro Region Championship. Following a brief recovery period, the Fords will shift their focus to the 2024-2025 indoor track & field season, which kicks off at the Ursinus Bow Tie Invitational on December 7.