The Ursinus College women's cross country team made program history this week with a regional ranking from the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), which released its first regional standings of the fall.
The Bears checked in at No. 9 in the Metro Region, the first regional ranking in school history. They were joined by the men's team, which also collected its first-ever spot in the top-10 at No. 9.
Competing in the Metro Region for the first time after an extended stint in the Mid-Atlantic, Ursinus is one of three Centennial Conference programs in the Metro top-10. Swarthmore topped the poll, while Haverford (No. 4) also appears in the top half of the rankings. Johns Hopkins (No. 1) and Dickinson (No. 2) are heavy hitters in the Mid-Atlantic, where Gettysburg (No. 9) is also regionally ranked.
Ursinus was voted fifth in the Centennial Conference preseason poll, which was also released earlier in the week. Johns Hopkins is the favorite with 81 points and nine first-place votes, with Dickinson earning 73 points and the other first-place ballot. Swarthmore is third (58 points), followed by Haverford (55), Ursinus (40), Franklin & Marshall (37), Gettysburg (35), Bryn Mawr (30), Muhlenberg (28), and McDaniel (13).
The ranking is another landmark progression under head coach Carl Blickle, who steered the Bears to a sixth-place finish at the CC championship in 2019, equaling the program mark last accomplished in 2007.
Senior Rachel Conhoff was a standout two seasons ago, placing 24th at the conference meet and 65th in a field of over 350 at the NCAA Mideast Regional.
Senior Lauren Ferguson and junior Holly Chambers were second and third across the line for Ursinus at the conference championship, then reversed that order at regionals. Junior Katherine Moore was also a consistent top-seven performer, while junior Jenna Lozzi and senior Amanda Choi are experienced competitors.
The Bears hit the course for the first time on Wednesday, September 1, at the Johns Hopkins Invitational.