The women’s cross country team at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, is ranked 10th in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association’s preseason poll. That is the highest preseason ranking in the history of the program.
The Lions tied for the spot with Allegheny College. Both teams compete in the Mideast Region.
The new poll shows promise for the Penn State Behrend team, which returns three all-conference runners: Catie Bertges, Katie Patterson and Haley Hughes.
Teammate Katie Spade hopes to rebound from an injury-plagued sophomore season. As a freshman, she placed third at the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference championships.
The team begins its season Sept. 1 at the Mercyhurst/Gannon Invitational in Fairview.