BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall women's cross country team competed in the Paul Short Run Friday afternoon. The event was hosted by Lehigh, with the Diplomats placing 21st out of 42 teams during the White Race at the prestigious event. The event marked the team's first 6,000 meter race of the season after three weeks of training. The Diplomats will continue to compete at the 6,000 meter distance which will be contested in the postseason.
The Diplomats were right in the mix with a number of Centennial Conference teams and other squads from around the region. Gettysburg did finish ahead of the Diplomats in the team standings, but F&M secured wins over fellow CC schools Haverford, Muhlenberg, Bryn Mawr, and McDaniel.
Emma Kline led F&M, posting a time of 23:14.9 on the six kilometer course, while placing 31st in the field of 334 runners. Kate Henderson was the second Diplomat to finish, clocking a time of 25:01.7. First-year Annalise Kauffman posted a time of 25:13.2, narrowly edging teammate Julianne Cadden's time of 25:13.4. Alysse Danyi finished close behind the duo at 25:16.3. Abby Bachman crossed the finish line with a time of 25:34.2 in her first career 6K. She finished just ahead of Valerie Fieberg (25:35.2) and Lucy Olsen (25:39.1). Fieberg's time was a personal best for the junior while Olsen was also contesting her first 6,000 meter race of her collegiate career.
The Diplomats will next compete in the Gettysburg Invitational on Saturday, October 15. That will be the team's final preparations before the Centennial Conference Championships at the end of October.
