Diplomats Rank #12 in November 2 NCAA Mid-East Women's Cross Country Coaches Poll

by Sports Information
11/3/04

LANCASTER, PA -- Franklin & Marshall College received 43 votes to rank 12th in the November 2 NCAA Mid-East Region Women's Cross Country Coaches Poll.

Ranked #9 on October 16, the ranking is a highlight in a season in which the Diplomats have placed second at the Delaware Valley Invitational on September 4, third at the McDaniel College Invitational on September 11, third at the Little Three Championships on September 15, eighth at the Allegheny Invitational on September 25, 11th at the Dickinson Invitational on October 2 and first at the Goucher Invitational on October 9.

At the 2004 Centennial Conference Championship race hosted by McDaniel College on October 30, the Diplomats placed sixth of 10 teams to tie for the sixth best finish by an F&M team since the inaugural CC championship race in 1993. The placement also snaps a four year streak of ninth place finishes by F&M (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003) as the Diplomats have finished third (1999), fifth (1993, 1995, 1996, 1998), sixth (1994, 1997, 2004) and ninth since the Conference’s first championship race.

Leading the way was Meredith Janeczek (So., Hershey, PA/Hershey) who crossed the finish line in 23:39 over the six-kilometer course to earn All-Centennial Conference honors.

Historically, she became the first All-Centennial Conference selection for F&M in cross country since Erin Carlson placed seventh at the 1999 championship race. Further, her finish marks the highest by a Franklin & Marshall women’s harrier since Jamie Kendig won the 1994 individual championship.

At the Goucher College Invitational on October 9, Janeczek finished first in 19:54.45 as the Franklin & Marshall College women's cross country team totaled 30 points to win invitational.

The meet was historical for the Diplomats as it marked the first invitational win by a Franklin & Marshall College women's cross country team since 1993 when F&M won the Salisbury University Tidewater Invitational on October 16 and the Little Three Championships (F&M 27, Gettysburg 30/ F&M 25, Dickinson 30) on November 3.

Individually, Janeczek's victory marked her second of the season as crossed the finish line in 24:05 over the six-kilometer course at the McDaniel Invitational to finish first. Her pair of victories mark the first time an F&M women's cross country runner has finished first in two invitationals in the same season since Jamie Kendig '96 accomplished the feat at the Davis & Elkins (21:17) and Dickinson (18:45) Invitationals during the 1994 season. Historically, Kendig also finished first at the Centennial Conference Championships (18:57) and Little Three Championships (19:08) before placing sixth at the NCAA Regionals (19:20) and 64th at the NCAA Championships (19:14.0).

Overall, Franklin & Marshall is one of eight Centennial Conference schools to receive votes in the region as Dickinson (#1), Haverford (#5), Gettysburg (#8), Muhlenberg (#9), Swarthmore (#10), Bryn Mawr (#17) and Johns Hopkins (#18) round out the CC’s representation in the poll.

Franklin & Marshall will return to action on November 13 at the NCAA Mid-East Regional Championship Meet hosted by Allegheny College.

NCAA Mid-Atlantic Region Women's Cross Country Poll (November 2, 2004)
1. Dickinson 913
2. Allegheny 179
3. Elizabethtown 170
4. Moravian 151
5. Haverford 129
6. Messiah 120
7. DeSales 94
8. Gettysburg 92
9. Muhlenberg 79
10. Swarthmore 71

Also receiving votes: Grove City (55), Franklin & Marshall (43), PSU-Behrend (31), Salisbury (23), Juniata (21), Susquehanna (12.5), Bryn Mawr (10), Johns Hopkins (2.5), Waynesburg (1)