Diplomats Win Philadelphia Metro Small College Women's Cross Country Championships

by T. Downes
9/24/05

PHILADELPHIA, PA -- Meredith Janeczek (Jr., Hershey, PA/Hershey) crossed the finish line in 20:03.07 to finish second and lead the Franklin & Marshall women's cross country team to the team title at the 26th Annual Philadelphia Metro Small College Championships in Fairmount Park on the Belmont Plateau.

Heralded as one of the "toughest courses in America", which includes the famed Parachute Hill, the race included 14 teams entered and 132 individual women.

The Diplomats captured the title with 34 points, outdistancing runner-up Marywood University (73), as Karen Ziga (Jr, Haverford, PA) finished in 20:24.33 to place fourth, while Megan Feehan (Sr, West Chester, PA), Katie Byrne (Fr, Gettysburg, PA) and Colette Buchanan (So, Hershey, PA) placed eighth, 11th and 18th to round out the team's top five finishers.

Karen Blacher (So, Miami, FL) and Shannon Weir (So, Villanova, PA) rounded out the varsity top seven spots for the team.

Complete Results
2. Meredith Janeczek 20:03.07
4. Karen Ziga 20:24.06
8. Megan Feehan 21:08.38
11. Katie Byrne 21:19.03
18. Colette Buchanan 21:41.94
24. Karen Blacher 22:00.67
31. Shannon Weir 22:21.65
33. Virginia Earl 22:25.66
44. Johana Jasinski 23:10.31
47. Jayme Ewanichak 23:17.01
56. Keira Rakoff 23:41.18
59. Emily Weir 23:45.74
71. Julia Schwartz 24:12.93

Team Places
1. Franklin & Marshall College 34
2. Marywood University 74
3. Felician College 125
4. Georgian Court University 132
5. University of the Sciences 138
6. Richard Stockton College 138
7. Philadelphia University 161
8. Penn State Berks-Lehigh 253
9. Keystone College 263
10. Holy Family University 286
11. Gloucester County College 287
12. Wesley College 314
13. Goldey Beacom College 324
14. Bloomfield College 363