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LANCASTER, PA - The Franklin & Marshall College women's cross country team has been selected to finish eighth in the Centennial Conference (CC) title race according to a poll of the CC head coaches. Defending Centennial Conference champion Dickinson earned eight out of a possible 10 first-place votes for 77 points to edge out Haverford, which garnered two first-place votes and 70 points, for the top spot in the poll. Third place went to Gettysburg, who totaled 56 points. Swarthmore was fourth with 49 points, while Muhlenberg was selected to finish fifth with 47 points. Rounding out the women's poll were Bryn Mawr (41), Johns Hopkins (34), Franklin & Marshall (33), McDaniel (29), and Ursinus (14). The ranking marks a one place improvement for the Diplomats as Franklin & Marshall was picked ninth in the 2003 poll and concluded the year with a ninth place finish at the Centennial Conference Championship meet at Muhlenberg. Leading the team's title hopes this year will be Karen Ziga (So., Haverford, PA/Haverford) who earned All-Region Freshman second team honors by placing 62nd in a time of 24:58 to lead the Franklin & Marshall College women's cross country team to an 18th place finish at the 2003 NCAA Mid-East Regional Championships hosted by Dickinson College. The 11th freshman to cross the finish line in the 264 person field, the honor marked the first for a Franklin & Marshall College freshman runner since Ariane Smith finished 13th overall in 1996 to advance to the NCAA Division III championship race at Augustana College. In addition, the All-Region honor marked the first for any Franklin & Marshall College women's cross country runner since Erin Carlson '01, Stephanie Stroud '00 and Lorin Lafemina '00 earned All-Region honors at the 1999 Regional Championships. On September 4, F&M will open the season at the Delaware Valley College Invitational before travelling to the McDaniel College Invitational on September 11. Four days later on September 15, the Diplomats will host Dickinson College and Gettysburg College at the College's Baker Campus in the 39th Annual Little Three Championship meet. Hosted continuously since 1966, the women's race will consist of a three kilometers run, while the men will race for five kilometers. The season will continue on September 25 at the Allegheny College Invitational, before the team travels to the Dickinson (10/2) and Goucher College (10/9) Invitationals to round out the regular season. The Diplomats will seek the Centennial Conference Championship on October 30 at McDaniel College. Two weeks later on November 13, the team will compete at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional hosted by Allegheny College. If an individual or the team qualifies, the season will conclude at the NCAA Division III Cross Country National Championships hosted by Wisconsin-Eau Claire. 2004 Centennial Conference Women's Cross Country Poll (First Place Votes)
1. Dickinson (8) 77
2. Haverford (2) 70
3. Gettysburg 56
4. Swarthmore 49
5. Muhlenberg 47
6. Bryn Mawr 41
7. Johns Hopkins 34
8. Franklin & Marshall 33
9. McDaniel 29
10. Ursinus 14 Head coaches polled
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