Saturday, October 27, 2001 at Dickinson College

11 a.m. - Women's Championhip
12 noon - Men's Championship

FORDS, RED DEVILS FAVORED IN CENTENNIAL X-COUNTRY
Nationally-Ranked Teams Run at Dickinson

LANCASTER, Pa. - Oct. 26, 2001 - The ninth annual Centennial Conference cross country championship is slated for Saturday, Oct. 27, at Dickinson College and all signs point to a familiar ending.

The Haverford College men have won all eight previous Centennial championships and have 12 consecutive to their credit dating to 1989. The Fords are ranked fourth nationally, trailing just Wisconsin-La Crosse, Wisconsin-Oshkosh and North Central (Ill.). The Dickinson College women are ranked 11th nationally and are looking for their fourth title in the last five years (1997-98-00).

The women's race kicks things off at 11 a.m., while the men's competition begins at noon.

On the men's side, Haverford is led by defending Conference Runner of the Year J.B. HAGLUND (Brentwood, TN / Brentwood), who won both the Centennial and NCAA Mideast Regional last season. PETER ROOK (Philadelphia, PA / Germantown Friends) and GREG BIELECKI (Maple Glen, PA / LaSalle College) also finished in the top seven last season, earning first-team All-Centennial honors. JIM STEINEMANN (Mendham, NJ / Delbarton School) finished ninth, showing the depth that could bring down the Conference record of 19 points, set last season by the Fords. Dickinson may have the best shot at unseating the Fords, led by the one-two combination of BRAD HAYWOOD (Rowayton, CT / Fairfield Prep) and NICK GROVER (Bradford Woods, PA / North Allegheny), who finished seventh and eighth in last year's CC meet.

Other individuals to watch include Muhlenberg's BRENDAN GALLAGHER (Brookfield, CT / Brookfield), who earned second-team All-Conference honors in 2000; Swarthmore's JOE MAKIN (Bethlehem, PA / Notre Dame); Gettysburg's RAY GEPHART (Croyden, PA / Harry S. Truman); Johns Hopkins' JOHN APPERSON (Kansas City, MO / Raytown); and Ursinus' BRIAN PENDERGHAST (Harleysville, PA / Souderton).

On the women's side, Dickinson welcomes back four All-Conference runners, including first-teamers ALEX FORTE (Easton, CT / Joel Barlow) and RACHEL LEVERENZ (Accident, MD / Northern), who finished second and fourth last season. JESSICA ELLERMAN (Carlisle, PA / Big Spring) and ROBIN GARBER (Pittsburgh, PA / Mount Lebanon) placed 9th and 12th to earn second-team All-CC honors. Haverford will give the Devils a run for the title. The Fords, who won Centennial titles in 1993-95-96, have a pair of first-team All-CC runners of their own in KRISTEN WILSON (Danvers, MA / Danvers) and PRENTISS CLARK (Chevy Chase MD / Bethesda-Chevy Chase), while JANE STEINEMANN (Mendham, NJ / Villa Walsh Academy) and COURTNEY FAIRBANKS (Eugene, OR / South Eugene) earned second-team laurels. Gettysburg and Western Maryland could also factor in the team championship chase. The Bullets won their own Invitational last weekend and look to KRISTIN ROBERTS (Reading, PA / Exeter Twp.) to lead the way. The Green Terror, which captured the crown in 1999, are led by three-time first-team All-CC runner JILL KREBS (New Windsor, MD / South Carroll). Krebs and Leverenz can become the second and third runners to earn first-team All-Centennial honors four times if they can finish among the top seven.

Other individuals to watch include Ursinus' KATE DOUGHERTY (Wilmington, DE / Ursuline Academy); Muhlenberg's KATIE GARRETT (Upper Saucon, PA / Southern Lehigh); Johns Hopkins' HEATHER BLAIR (Norfolk, MA / King Phillip Regional) and Swarthmore's MARIA-ELENA YOUNG (Oakland, CA / Oakland Tech).

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