WESTMINSTER, Md. – Racing with a young lineup that featured one senior, two sophomores, and three first-years, the Franklin & Marshall women's cross country team placed eighth at the 2023 Centennial Conference Championship which was hosted by McDaniel on Saturday. The Diplomats scored 243 points to defeat Muhlenberg and McDaniel.

First-year Katie Scott led the way for the Diplomats in her first Centennial Conference Championship with a 31st place finish in a time of 26:16.4. Sophomore Anna Atticks also competed in her first conference championship and finished 51st overall with a time of 27:39.9.

Senior Julianne Cadden posted the best finish at the Centennial Conference Championship of her career as she finished in 66th place with a time of 28:42.3. That set up a very tight finish from the Diplomats' final three runners. First-years Hana Hyman (29:32.7) and Georgia Hodgson (29:36.2) were instrumental in securing the team's finish as the fourth and fifth F&M scoring runners across the line. They place 75th and 77th overall, respectively. Abby Bachman additionally displaced runners from McDaniel as the team's sixth finisher with her time of 30:08.8 to place 79th in the individual standings.

Women's cross country now has two weeks to recover before taking part in the 2023 NCAA Division III Mid-Atlantic Regional. That race, which is set for Saturday, November 11, will be held in Lock Haven where bids to the NCAA Division III National Championships will be on the line.