ROCHESTER, N.Y. (November 6, 2021) - For the first time in program history, the Franklin Pierce University women's cross country team will be sending a competitor to the NCAA Championship national meet. Graduate student Bethaney Donnelly (Manchester, United Kingdom) came home third (21:36), in a 139-runner 6k race on Saturday, to claim a berth to the national championship and lead the Ravens to an 11^th-place finish at the NCAA Championship East Regional, hosted by Roberts Wesleyan.

At the regional cross country meets, the top three teams, plus the top two finishers who are not a member of a qualifying team, advance to the national championship meet. With the top two finishers both coming from regional champion American International, Donnelly in third was the top finisher not on a qualifying team. In addition, Donnelly and the rest of the top-25 finishers will earn All-Region recognition from the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) at a later date.

After Donnelly for the Ravens, in 79^th was sophomore Victoria Van Houten (Wantage, N.J.), who raced a time of 24:38. Next was sophomore Meghan Sheline (Southington, Conn.), who took 93^rd for her 25:22 performance. Not far behind was senior Alana Thompson (Westampton, N.J.) in 97^th for her 25:38 time.

In 103^rd was graduate student Alena Masterson (Pelham, N.H.), who raced a time of 25:57. Finishing out the day for the team was sophomore Jenna Parent (Tyngsboro, Mass.), who took 122^nd for her 27:04 time.

Donnelly will represent the Ravens at the NCAA Championship, which is set for Saturday, Nov. 20, in Saint Leo, Fla.