After a strong performance at the Ivy League Heptagonal Championships, women's cross country had five All-Ivy League selections.
PRINCETON, N.J. – Five members of the Harvard women's cross country team earned All-Ivy League recognition after a historic performance for the Crimson at the Ivy League Heptagonal Championships on Saturday. In addition, associate head coach Patrick Wales-Dinan was named Ivy League Women's Coach of the Year.
Harvard's top five finishers at Heps all placed in the top 12 of the race, helping the Crimson earn its first Ivy title since 1985. Junior Courtney Smith led the way, winning the individual title in 20:19.6, Harvard's first individual Ivy crown since Suzanne Jones won at Heps in 1989.
Smith earned All-Ivy League First Team recognition by way of her top-seven finish, marking the second consecutive year that she has earned first team honors. Freshman Erin Dietz, who placed fifth and freshman Judy Pendergast, who finished sixth were also first team selections. Harvard's All-Ivy Second Team members were freshman Lisa Tertsch (ninth at Heps) and junior Elianna Shwayder (12th at Heps).
Wales-Dinan has guided the women's cross country program to its strongest season in years.
Harvard is currently ranked 18th in the latest U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) poll, the highest ranking in program history. The Crimson women also reached No. 2 in the latest USTFCCCA Northeast Region rankings.
Harvard is off this weekend before returning to action on Nov. 11 at the NCAA Northeast Regional Championship, held at Van Cortlandt Park in New York.
