FREDERICK, Md. – The Franklin & Marshall women's cross country team picked up its first title since the 2017 season with a victory on Saturday at the Hood College Invitational. The Diplomats scored 31 points as a team with Lexi Salerno taking home the individual victory as she broke the 20-minute mark. In the process, the Diplomats notched another regionally-ranked win against the South's No. 5 Mary Washington.

Salerno's individual victory is her second of the season as she was also the individual champion at the F&M Season Opener. During that race, she also broke the 20-minute mark. Salerno won today's race by over 20 seconds versus her closest competitor from Truett-McConnell as it finished third in the team standings.

Elizabeth O'Connell was also running with the lead pack and finished in third with a time of 20:19.3, just tenths of a second away from giving the Diplomats the top two finishers. June Sanchez was also in the top 10 of a field that featured 116 finishers. her time of 20:26 placed her seventh behind a new personal best at the 5,000 meter distance.

Kate Henderson and Freya Lindvall gave the Diplomats five scorers in the top 14 overall and the top 12 among competing teams. Henderson finished in a time of 20:58, while Lindvall finished in 21:09 as the Diploamts' spread was just over one minute with great team running. Sydney Dzenutis (21:28.5) and Laura Greene (21:28.9) took the 17th and 18th places. Alysse Danyi (21:40.2) and Valerie Fieberg (23:01.8) also competed for the Diplomats in their winning effort.

With a great performance topping the tremendous regular season, the Diplomats now set their sights on the postseason as the Centennial Conference Championship is just two weeks away. Johns Hopkins will serve as the host of this year's meet which will start at 11 a.m. for the women on Saturday, October 30.