Results

PRINCETON, N.J. (11/15/08) – The 2008 NCAA Women’s Mid-Atlantic Cross Country Regional ended in a first-place tie between West Virginia and host school Princeton. Both teams recorded 51 points and will earn automatic bids to the NCAA Championship.

The overnight rain led to muddy conditions on the course, but the temperatures hovered around 65.

Junior Liz Costello finished in second place with a time of 21:15. Though no one could have realized it at the time, it was a fierce closing sprint by Costello to catch Penn State's Bridget Franek in the final strides that made the difference between the tie for the team title and what would have been a runner-up finish for the Tigers.

Senior Jolee VanLeuven took seventh with a time of 21:39. Freshman Alex Banfich clocked in at 21:51 for 10th place, and four seconds later senior Megan Brandeland finished in 12th place. Junior Reilly Kiernan was the final Tiger scorer, covering the course in 22:19 for 20th place. Sophomores Sarah Cummings and Ashley Higginson finished in the top of the pack of 191 runners, taking 22nd and 31st places, respectively.

Villanova’s Frances Koons won the individual title with a time of 21:11, helping the Wildcats to a third-place team finish.

This is the second straight year Princeton has finished first at the regional. The Tigers will return to Terre Haute, Ind., where they finished first in the Pre-National race in mid-October.

Thirteen at-large teams will be selected by the NCAA, tomorrow, Nov. 16. The first four finishes at each regional not on one of those qualifying teams will be automatically qualified. However, they must have finished in the top 25 in the region. The committee will also select two at-large individuals.

Princeton Finishers
2. Liz Costello (21:15)
7. Jolee VanLeuven (21:39)
10. Alex Banfich (21:51)
12. Megan Brandeland (21:55)
20. Reilly Kiernan (22:19)
22. Sarah Cummings (22:25)
31. Ashley Higginson (22:46)